i^m^-Wf'm' 


;HUR(:]-1  CHRONICLES 


BX  8949  .R58  R62  1915 
Robinson,  Charles  Mulford, 
1869-1917. 

First  Church  chronicles, 
1  81 R-1  91  ^ 


'I'll  I.   i'ki,si;nt  ciirKcii    i;i  ii.dini, 


Mm  25  1915 


first  Cf)urc|)  C|)romcles 

1815=1915 

CENTENNIAL   HISTORY 

OF    THE 

FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 

ROCHESTER,  NEW  YORK 

BY 

CHARLES  MULFORD  ROBINSON 


ROCHESTER 

THE    CRAFTSMAN   PRESS 

191S 


Copyright,  1915 

by 

The  Trustees  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church 


I  love  Thy  kingdom,  Lord, 
The  house  of  Thine  abode, 

The  Church  our  blest  Redeemer  saved 
With  His  own  precious  blood. 

I  love  Thy  Church,  0  God: 
Her  walls  before  Thee  stand. 

Dear  as  the  apple  of  Thine  eye, 
And  graven  on  Thy  hand. 

For  her  my  tears  shall  fall, 
For  her  my  prayers  ascend; 

To  her  my  cares  and  toils  be  given, 
Till  toils  and  cares  shall  end." 


CHRONOLOGY  AND  CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Introduction 9 

1815-1816.     Beginnings ll 

1816-1821.     The  First  Pastorate 21 

1821-1824.     Dr.  Penney  Takes  Hold 42 

1824.  The  Church  Behind  the  Court  House.  .  50 

1825.  Some  Important  Events 59 

1822-1826.     The  Sunday  School 61 

1 826-1 829.     Subjects  of  Thought 64 

1830-183 2.     A  Revival  and  an  Accident 72 

1832-1833.     Dr.  Penney  Leaves 81 

1833-1835.     Tryon  Edwards  Comes 85 

1836-1839.     Troublesome  Questions 91 

1836-1844.     A  Vigorous  Church 97 

1845.          Choosing  a  New  Pastor 107 

1845-1847.     Dr.  McLaren 109 

1847.  Interesting  Correspondence 112 

1848.  Dr.  Mcllvaine 115 

Church  Life  in  the  Middle  of  the  Cen- 
tury..    117 

1 849-1 859.     Some  Events  of  Dr.   Mcllvaine's  Pas- 
torate   124 

i860.          An  Important  Year 132 

1861-1863.     Dr.  Pease  and  His  Death 134 

1864-1865.     Dr.  Beadle 138 

1866-1868.     Mr.  Wines 140 

1868-1870.     Without  Pastor  or  Church 144 

1870-1871.     Planning  for  a  New  Building 149 

S 


chronology  and  Contents 

PAGE 

1870.  The  Coming  of  Mr.  Robertson 152 

1871-1872.     Cornerstone  Laying  and   Dedication  of 

New  Church 154 

1870-1877.     The  Pastorate  of  Mr.  Robertson 162 

1878-1886.     Dr.  Robinson  as  Pastor 167 

1887-1900.     Dr.  Millard 175 

1901-1909.     Dr.  Miller 181 

1909-1911.     Temporary  Supplies 188 

191 1.         The  Beginning  of  the  Present  Pastorate  190 

Notes 195 

Present  Officers  of  the  Church 196 

Former  Officers  of  the  Church 199 

Index  of  Names 200 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


FACING 
PAGE 


The  Present  Church  Building Title 

Rochester's  First  Church  Edifice 24 

Rev.  Comfort  Williams 40 

The  Church  Behind  the  Court  House 52 

Seating  Arrangement,  1848 120 

Interior  of  the  Present  Church 178 


Jfirs(t  Cljurct)  Cfjronidesf 


Introduction 

It  may  seem  no  great  thing  to  celebrate  the 
hundredth  anniversary  of  a  church.  What  is  a 
century  of  Christian  fellowship — one  century, 
when  one  is  dealing  with  eternal  verities  in 
their  action  and  reaction  upon  a  section  of 
mankind?  Yet,  it  takes  only  nineteen  such 
periods  to  get  back  to  the  time  when  Jesus  was 
preaching,  and  even  one  is  sufficient  to  substi- 
tute forest  conditions  for  the  splendor,  roar  and 
self-confidence  of  a  city. 

Measured,  then,  by  the  events  that  may  trans- 
pire in  it,  a  century  is  an  immensely  important 
span.  None  of  the  great  businesses  of  modern 
Rochester  traces  its  local  history  back  so  far; 
no  bank,  no  newspaper,  no  typical  industry  of 
the  city  reaches  back  a  hundred  years.  But 
the  Church — the  expression  of  an  eternal  rela- 
tion, of  a  heart-need  and  heart-yearning — that, 

9 


First  Church  Chronicles 

changing  little,  bridges  the  century  easily. 
Through  all  the  long  period  lies,  clear  and  shin- 
ing, the  trail  of  its  career. 

The  simile  is  not  inapt.  The  path,  started 
uncertainly  in  the  forest,  leads,  worn  by  the 
feet  of  many,  into  a  city.  And  still  its  pil- 
grims go  trooping  on,  the  light  of  faith  upon 
their  faces.  As  from  the  beginning,  they  go 
with  gladness,  their  burdens  lightened  by  the 
path, — as  the  Master  promised, — and  little 
children  running  at  their  side.  Whatever  the 
distractions  beside  the  way,  the  Path  still  draws 
its  pilgrims.  Under  the  music  of  its  songs, 
the  hush  of  its  prayers,  the  admonition  of  the 
beloved  leader,  they  hold  to  the  Path.  Very 
beautiful,  as  one  looks  back,  are  the  graves  of 
those  who  died  upon  the  way;  very  significant 
and  prideworthy  are  the  branching  paths,  of 
those  who  left  the  Mother-trail  in  order  that 
they  might  break  new  paths  that  should  lead 
also  to  the  Goal. 

It  is  the  history  of  this  Mother-trail  of  the 
community, — begun  in  a  forest  hamlet  and  car- 
ried thence  through  village,  town  and  city — 
which  this  chronicle  would  trace. 


lO 


First  Church  Chronicles 
II 

Beginnings 

Rochester  in  1815  was  a  community  of 
about  three  hundred  people.  Most  of  the 
buildings — small  frame  structures,  one  to  one 
and  a  half  stories  high — were  between  the  site 
of  Powers  Block  and  the  bridge  over  the  river. 
A  frog  pond  was  where  the  Court  House  yard 
now  is;  east  of  CHnton  Street  and  north  of 
Main  was  mostly  forest;  west  from  Washington 
Street  there  was  a  swamp,  and  beyond  that 
lay  the  forests  again.  On  Washington  Street 
hill,  where  Mrs.  Craig's  house  now  stands,  the 
Seneca  Indians  had  celebrated  heathen  worship, 
with   the   sacrifice  of  a  white  dog,   as  lately  as 

1813. 

In  this  little  frontier  community  dwelt  at 
least  two  pious  women — Mrs.  Hamlet  Scrantom 
and  Mrs.  Wheelock,  whom  an  early  history 
describes  as  *'  women  of  faith  and  prayer." 
Mrs.  Scrantom  had  a  daughter,  Delia,  whose 
attractions  won  the  heart  of  Jehiel  Barnard; 
and  so — we  may  suppose  with  no  great  dif- 
ficulty, for  he  seems  also  to  have  been  a  pious 
soul — his  future  mother-in-law  secured  Jehiel's 
consent  to  the  use  of  the  room,  fourteen  by 
twenty-two,  over  his  tailor  shop,  for  religious 

II 


First  Church  Chronicles 

services.  The  shop  was  between  the  Four 
Corners  and  the  present  entrance  to  the  Arcade. 
The  services  in  this  small  upper  room  were 
conducted  by  Mr.  Barnard  himself  and  by  War- 
ren Brown.  They  consisted  of  singing,  prayer, 
scripture  and  the  reading  of  a  printed  sermon. 
The  singing,  we  are  told,  was  mainly  by 
Jehiel  and  Delia,  and  though  the  hymns  of 
those  days  were  lugubrious,  these  duets  so 
prospered  their  love  that  theirs  was  the 
first  marriage  to  be  celebrated  in  Rochester. 

Naturally,  first  religious  services  were  of  a 
strictly  union  character.  Silas  O.  Smith,  an 
Episcopalian,  had  brought  out  from  Massa- 
chusetts three  Books  of  Common  Prayer,  and 
these  were  used  when  there  was  no  preacher. 
But  after  a  few  months  of  faithfulness  on  the 
part  of  the  congregation  preachers  did  begin 
to  come — sometimes  a  Baptist  from  Pittsford, 
and  sometimes  a  Presbyterian,  Rev.  Reuben 
Parmelee,  from  Victor.  Those  were  the  gala 
occasions,  and  on  such  days  the  congregation 
moved  down  to  the  lower  floor. 

On  the  first  day  of  May,  1815, — the  date 
we  celebrate — these  faithful  fathers  and  mothers 
of  the  church  met  in  the  village  schoolhouse, 
pursuant  to  a  notice  that  had  been  given  at 
preceding    Sunda}^    services,    for    the    purpose 

12 


First  Church  Chronicles 

of  incorporating  a  religious  society.  They 
selected  Otis  Walker  and  Hastings  R.  Bender 
to  preside,  and  adopted  a  certificate  which 
recited  that  the  corporation  should  be  known 
in  law  as  "  The  Trustees  of  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Society  of  the  Town  of  Gates,"  The 
certificate,  acknowledged  before  Gibbons 
Jewett,  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas, 
names  Elisha  Ely,  Otis  Walker,  Henry  Don- 
nelly, Francis  Brown,  Charles  Magne  and 
Orrin  E.  Gibbs  as  trustees,  and  is  signed  by 
Messrs.  Walker  and  Bender,  in  the  presence 
of  O.  E.  and  OHver  Gibbs.  It  is  interesting 
to  note,  as  perhaps  a  significant  sidelight 
on  the  character  of  the  times  and  the  people, 
that  the  papers  were  recorded  in  the  office 
of  the  County  Clerk  on  July  5th  at  6  a.m. 
The  Clerk's  office  was  in  Batavia,  for  at  that 
time  Genesee  County  extended  east  to  the 
Genesee  River. 

After  these  papers  had  been  duly  filed,  the 
Presbytery  of  comparatively  metropolitan  Ge- 
neva appointed  a  committee  to  meet  in  Roches- 
terville,  on  August  22d,  to  consider  the 
expediency  of  actually  establishing  the  pro- 
posed Presbyterian  church. 

To  prepare  for  the  coming  of  this  committee 
there  was  called  "  a  meeting  of  the  professors 

13 


First  Church  Chronicles 

of  religion  and  of  these  desirous  of  becoming 
such,"  to  be  held  at  the  schoolhouse  August 
i8,  1815.     The  minutes  of  that  meeting  read: 

The  Reverend  Comfort  Williams  being  present  was 
chosen  Moderator.     Mr.  Brown  was  chosen  Scribe. 

The  meeting  was  then  opened  by  prayer  by  the  Moder- 
ator. 

It  was  motioned  and  seconded  that  the  church  to  be 
formed  in  this  place  be  upon  the  Presbyterian  plan. 

Voted  for  Presbyterian.  Voted  for  Congregational. 

Oliver  Gibbs  Capt.  Donnelly 

Mr.  Brown  Mr.  West 

Mr.  Magne 
Mr.  Ely 
Mr.  Lay 

Voted  to  meet  on  Tuesday,  22  August,  1815,  at  10 
o'clock  A.M.  for  the  purpose  of  examining  candidates  for 
church  fellowship. 

At  this  time  the  committee  of  Presbytery 
would  be  present.  That  committee  con- 
sisted of  Rev.  Reuben  Parmelee,  the  preacher 
who  had  occasionally  come  from  Victor,  Rev. 
David  Fuller,  and  Deacons  Samuel  Stone  and 
Isaac  B.  Barnum. 

The  meeting  was  held,  Mr.  Fuller  acting 
as  moderator  and  Mr.  Parmelee  as  scribe; 
and  the  Revs.  Comfort  Williams  and  Eleazer 
Fairbanks,  who  were  present,  were  duly  in- 
vited to  sit  in  council.     The  moderator  opened 

14 


First  Church  Chronicles 

the  meeting  with  prayer.  Then  "  the  articles 
of  faith  and  covenant  contained  in  the  Utica 
Magazine,  No.  4,  October,  18 13,  were  adopted, 
with  the  addition  of  two  other  articles  of 
practice."  These  were  approved  by  the  six- 
teen persons  whose  names  are  hereafter  given, 
and  who,  "  having  professed  their  faith  and 
entered  into  a  covenant  with  God  and  one 
another  were  incorporated  and  constituted 
into  a  regular  church  of  Christ."  To  this 
church  was  given  the  title,  "  The  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Gates  in  Rochesterville." 
"  An  appropriate  sermon  was  preached  by 
Mr.  Fairbanks,  from  Ephesians  II,  20,  21, 
22.  After  which,  OHver  Gibbs  and  Daniel 
West  were  chosen  Deacons,  and  Warren 
Brown  and  Henry  Donnelly  were  chosen 
Elders,  and  ordained  and  set  apart  to  their 
respective  offices  by  prayer  and  a  charge, 
agreeable  to  the  directory  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Elisha  Ely  was  chosen  Clerk  of  the 
church.*  "  These  were  the  first  church  officers 
of  Rochester.  A  year  later.  Dr.  Gibbs  was 
chosen  treasurer  of  the  church. 

Following    are    the    interesting    Articles    of 
Faith  to  which  the  members  subscribed: 

*  The  quotation  is  from  the  original  minutes,  signed 
by  the  moderator  of  the  meeting. 

15 


First  Church  Chronicles 

1.  You  believe  that  there  is  one  and  but  one  God, 
who  is  the  creator,  preserver  and  governor  of  all,  and 
possesses  every  natural  and  moral  perfection. 

2.  You  believe  that  the  Holy  Bible  was  written  by  men 
divinely  inspired,  and  is  a  perfect  rule  of  faith  and 
practice. 

3.  You  believe  that  God  exists  in  three  persons,  the 
Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  these  three  are 
one,  the  same  in  essence  and  equal  in  every  divine  per- 
fection. 

4.  You  believe  that  God  has  foreordained  whatsoever 
comes  to  pass. 

5.  You  believe  that  God  created  Adam  perfectly  holy 
and  made  him  the  representative  of  all  his  posterity. 

6.  You  believe  that  by  Adam's  fall,  all  his  posterity 
are  born  wholly  depraved,  and  they  are  justly  liable  to 
endless  punishment. 

7.  You  believe  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  God 
and  man,  hath  by  His  death  made  an  atonement  for  the 
sin  of  the  world. 

8.  You  believe  that  God  hath  purposed  to  apply  the 
atonement  to  those  only  who  were  predestined  to  be 
holy  and  to  be  heirs  of  eternal  glory. 

9.  You  believe  that  the  foundation  of  the  elects' 
acceptance  with  God  is  Jesus  Christ  in  whom  they 
become  interested  by  faith  alone. 

10.  You  believe  that  in  order  to  exercise  any  gracious 
aflfection  a  sinner  must  be  renewed  by  the  power  and 
grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

11.  You  believe  that  God  hath  covenanted  to  bring 
all  His  elect  to  His  heavenly  kingdom. 

12.  You  believe  that  the  church  ought  to  require  a 
credible  profession  of  holy  love  of  all  whom  they  receive 
to  their  communion. 

13.  You  hold  that  adults  who  have  not  been  baptized 
and  the  children  of  professing  believers  are  the  proper 
subjects  of  baptism. 

16 


First  Church  Chronicles 


14.  You  believe  that  God  hath  appointed  a  day  in 
which  He  will  judge  the  world  in  righteousness  by  Jesus 
Christ,  who  will  then  receive  the  righteous  to  endless 
happiness  and  sentence  the  wicked  to  endless  punish- 
ment. 

There  were,  also,  twelve  Articles  of  Practice, 
to  which  the  first  members  had  to  put  their 
names.     These  were: 

1.  You  believe  that  a  church  consists  of  a  number  of 
visible  saints,  united  and  bound  by  a  covenant  to  walk 
together  according  to  the  Scriptures. 

2.  You  believe  the  members  of  a  church  are  bound 
to  watch  over  each  other  with  great  care  and  tenderness; 
and  to  admonish,  reprove  and  discipline  such  as  trespass. 

3.  You  believe  heresy  and  unchristian  conduct  to  be 
trespasses  against  the  church. 

4.  You  consider  the  church  has  a  right  to  determine 
what  is  heresy  and  unchristian  conduct. 

5.  You  believe  that  none  ought  to  bring  a  complaint 
against  a  member  before  the  church  unless  they  think 
there  is  ground  of  complaint  and  evidence  of  the  offence, 
nor  until  they  have  taken  the  private  m.ethods  to  con- 
vince and  reclaim  him. 

6.  You  believe  that  a  church  ought  not  to  receive  a 
complaint  against  a  member,  unless  it  be  brought  by 
two  or  three  who  testify  that  the  private  methods  to 
reclaim  him  have  been  taken  and  that  he  will  not  hear 
them,  and  that  he  ought  to  be  called  to  account  by  the 
church. 

7.  You  believe  the  church  ought  to  excommunicate 
every  member  who  persists  in  heresy  or  unchristian 
conduct  after  dealing  with  him  according  to  the  Scrip- 
tures. 

8.  You  believe  that  excommunicated  persons  may  not 

17 


First  Church  Chronicles 


be  restored  but  upon  a  public  confession  of  his  sin,  a 
profession  of  repentance  and  a  reformation  of  his  con- 
duct. 

9.  You  believe  that  family  prayer  is  an  indispensable 
duty  of  believing  parents  and  guardians  and  all  those 
who  have  the  direction  of  a  household. 

10.  You  believe  that  parents  and  guardians  are  under 
solemn  obligations  to  labor  to  restrain  their  children 
and  dependents,  especially  those  who  have  been  baptised, 
from  all  sinful  and  unlawful  amusements,  and  both  by 
precept  and  example  to  instil  into  their  minds  a  sacred 
observance  of  the  Lord's  day  and  the  worship  of  His 
house. 

11.  You  believe  the  church  ought  to  direct  in  singing 
the  praises  of  God. 

12.  You  consider  it  expedient  for  the  church  to  obtain 
the  advice  and  judgment  of  other  churches  in  important 
and  difficult  cases. 

After  these  Articles  of  Faith  and  Practice 
the  candidates  entered  into  the  following  cove- 
nant: 

You  do  now,  one  and  all,  in  the  presence  of  the  heart- 
searching  God  and  before  angels  and  men,  choose  the 
Lord  Jehovah  to  be  your  God  and  portion,  and  you 
heartily  receive  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  for  your  Redeemer 
and  Saviour,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  for  your  Teacher  and 
Sanctifier.  You  do  wholly  renounce  the  services  of 
Satan,  and  you  covenant  to  yield  an  universal  obedience 
to  all  the  divine  commandments.  You  do  submit  your- 
self to  the  government  of  Christ  in  His  church  and  to 
the  regular  administration  of  it  in  this  church.  You 
do  covenant  to  attend  the  worship  and  the  ordinances 
of  the  gospel  with  this  church  so  long  as  God  in  His 
providence  shall  continue  you   in   this  place.     And  you 

l8 


First  Church  Chronicles 

promise  to  be  accountable  to  this  churcii  so  long  as  you 
live  unless  you  be  regularly  released  from  your  relation 
to  this  particular  church.  Thus  you  covenant  and 
promise  to  do  so  far  as  God  shall  give  you  light,  oppor- 
tunity and  ability. 

Sixteen  persons  subscribed  to  these  Articles 
and  Covenant,  and  by  so  doing  became  the 
first  members  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church. 
These  members,  seven  men  and  nine  women, 
were:  Oliver  Gibbs,  Daniel  West,  Henry 
Donnelly,  Warren  Brown,  Elisha  Ely,  Charles 
Magne,  Aaron  Lay,  Jane  Gibbs,  EHzabeth 
West,  Hannah  Donnelly,  Hannah  Ely,  Huldah 
Stoddard,  Polly  Magne,  Sarah  Lay,  Sibel 
Bickford  and  Arbela  Starks. 

The  population  of  the  village  at  this  time 
was  exactly  331,  so  that  a  membership  of  six- 
teen appears  to  have  represented  only  about 
one  in  twenty  persons.  In  fact,  it  repre- 
sented an  even  smaller  proportion,  for  the 
parish  was  not  confined  to  those  who  were 
gathered  in  the  forest  clearing  beside  the 
Genesee.  The  society  was  the  only  religious 
organization  in  a  tract  of  four  hundred  square 
miles,  though  not  in  the  center  of  that  tract, 
and  no  church  meeting  could  be  legally  called 
unless  notice  had  been  sent  to  the  settle- 
ments on   "  the  ridge  "   in  Gates   and   in   the 

19 


First  Church  Chronicles 

east  part  of  Brighton.  Indeed,  the  second 
meeting  of  its  Session  was  held  on  the 
"  Brighton  ridge." 

The  sixteen  original  members  represent  only 
ten  different  names.  Of  these  there  are  to-day 
descendants  of  one  in  the  Brighton  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  a  descendant  of  another  in  the 
Central — both  churches  that  are  ecclesiastical 
children  of  the  First.  Most  interesting,  also, 
is  it  to  observe  that,  out  of  the  sixteen,  one 
was  subsequently  excommunicated,  another 
"  dropped  from  the  rolls  at  her  own  request," 
and  that  only  four  remained  in  the  church 
until  their  death.  Yet  the  church  grew  stead- 
ily in  numbers  and  in  power. 

With  the  beginning  of  the  new  year,  on 
January  17,  18 16,  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Gates,  in  Rochesterville,  installed  a  regular 
pastor.  The  choice  was  Rev.  Comfort  Wil- 
liams, who  had  had  a  church  in  Ogdensburg 
paying  him  the  princely  salary  of  $600  a 
year,  and  who  had  been  invited  to  sit  in  the 
council  which  decided  that  the  Rochesterville 
church  should  be  established.  He  had  preached 
in  the  village  several  times  during  missionary 
journeys  through  Western  New  York  in  the 
preceding  two  years. 

It  is  worth  while  to  note  at  this  point  that 
20 


First  Church  Chronicles 

the  wise  Providence  which  guided  the  growth 
of  Rochester  not  only  caused  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  first  rehgious  society  in  the  same 
year  that  the  first  tavern  was  opened,  but 
brought  to  the  community  its  first  settled 
pastor  in  the  same  year  that  its  first  lawyer 
came  and  that  its  first  newspaper  (the  weekly 
"Gazette")  was  pubHshed!  It  cannot  be 
said  that  the  community  did  not  start  fair. 

Ill 

The  First  Pastorale 

As  may  be  imagined,  the  installation  of 
the  first  pastor  in  a  frontier  settlement  was  a 
great  event.  The  exercises  were  under  the 
auspices  of  Geneva  Presbytery.  Following 
is  the  program  which  was  carried  out,  in  an 
unfinished  frame  store  belonging  to  William 
Noble,  on  Carroll  Street:  Rev.  Aaron  C. 
Collins  presided;  Rev.  Joseph  Merrell  made 
the  introductory  prayer,  Rev.  William  Clark 
the  installing  prayer.  Rev.  Reuben  Parmelee 
of  Victor,  who  so  well  knew  local  conditions, 
gave  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Rev.  James 
H.  Hotchkin,  who  afterward  wrote  the  history 
of  the  churches  of  Western  New  York,  delivered 
the  charge  to  the  people.     The  sermon  (from 

21 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Colossians  IV,  17)  was  preached  by  the  Rev. 
Ebenezer  Fitch,  D.D.,  of  West  Bloomfield, 
who  for  twenty-two  j^ears  had  been  first 
president  of  WilHams  College.  The  conclud- 
ing prayer  was  made  by  the  Rev.  F.  Pomeroy. 
Half  a  dozen  other  ministers,  including  Messrs. 
Fuller  and  Fairbanks,  were  present  besides 
those  who  had  places  on  the  program.  The 
service  was  held  at  11  a.m. 

On  the  day  preceding,  i.e.,  on  January  i6th, 
the  Presbytery  of  Geneva  had  met  to  receive 
Mr.  Williams  into  its  membership.  The  pro- 
ceedings appear  to  have  been  enlivened  by  an 
undertaking  to  examine  him  "  as  to  his  sound- 
ness in  the  faith  " — a  course,  the  Session  Book 
notes,  to  which  "  Mr.  WilHams  strongly 
objected,  as  being  '  unpresidented.'  "  How- 
ever, the  fathers  of  Rochester  Presbj^terianism 
proposed  to  run  no  risk,  and  the  prospective 
pastor  was  compelled  to  give  "  a  reason  of 
his  hope  "  and  to  read  "  a  part  of  a  discourse." 
After  that  he  was  received. 

The  date  of  the  installation  missed  by  only 
five  days  the  pastor's  thirty-third  birthdaj^ 
Comfort  Williams  was  a  graduate  of  Yale, 
in  the  class  of  1808,  and  then  had  attended 
Andover  Theological  Seminary  for  two  years. 
His  grandson,  Charles  M.  Williams  of  Roches- 

22 


First  Church  Chronicles 

ter,  has  pictured  him  as  youthful  in  appear- 
ance and  rather  small  in  stature,  with  a  prom- 
inent aquiline  nose,  thin  sensitive  lips,  a  smooth 
face,  high  forehead,  brown  eyes,  and  brown- 
black  hair.  His  father  had  been  of  the  little 
company  who  responded  to  the  alarm  at  Lex- 
ington and  had  fought  at  Bunker  Hill.  Doubt- 
less there  was  something  of  that  spirit  in  the 
son,  who  left  effete  Ogdensburg  to  come  to 
infant  Rochester. 

The  new  pastor  preached  at  first  in  Barnard's 
tailor  shop,  and  occasionally  at  the  residence 
of  Enos  Stone,  sometimes  in  the  house  and 
sometimes  in  the  barn.  Stone  was  the  local 
agent  of  Colonel  Rochester,  and  his  residence 
was  on  South  Avenue,  about  where  the  New 
Osborn  House  now  is.  Later  the  people  met 
in  the  First  District  Schoolhouse,  on  Fitzhugh 
Street  opposite  the  present  Court  House. 
The  congregation  was  summoned  by  a  tin 
horn,  and  for  the  hymns  a  tuning  fork  gave 
the  key. 

It  was  naturally  desired  to  secure  a  church, 
but  as  the  money  for  this  purpose  (about 
^2000  for  building  and  lot)  could  not  be  raised 
in  the  ordinary  way,  a  stock  company  was 
formed  to  advance  it.  This  money  was  "  to  be 
repaid  from   the  yearly  rent  of  the  slips,"  so 

23 


First  Church  Chronicles 

insuring  "  comfortable  seats,"  and  relieving 
the  independent  little  community,  much  to 
its  credit,  from  asking  that  assistance  from 
outside  for  which,  as  a  missionary  enter- 
prise, it  might  have  made  a  claim. 

In  January,  1817,  just  a  year  after  the  pastor 
was  installed,  Moses  Chapin,  acting  as  agent 
for  the  company,  which  was  an  association 
of  thirteen  members  called  the  Rochester 
Meeting  House  Company,  made  a  contract 
with  Col.  Rochester  for  the  purchase  of  a  lot. 
This  was  located  on  what  is  now  State  Street, 
where  the  present  American  Express  office 
is.  Possession  was  immediately  secured  and 
a  frame  building,  40  by  50  feet  in  size,  was 
erected  so  promptly  that  in  May,  1817,  only 
four  months  later,  Mr.  Williams  was  able 
to  preach  the  inaugural  sermon  in  it.  As  the 
site  of  the  building  was  low  and  wet,  the 
structure  was  placed  on  posts,  or  blocks,  and 
these  having  no  walls  between  them,  services 
were  frequently  enlivened  by  the  grunting 
of  pigs  and  the  barking  of  dogs  beneath  the 
floor.  The  pigs  especially,  it  is  said,  delighted 
to  rub  their  backs  on  the  joists. 

The  Session  records  of  these  early  days 
contain  many  items  to  which  a  quaint  phrase- 
ology   and    the    lapse   of  time    lend    interest: 

24 


First  Church  Chronicles 

At  a  meeting  held  March  i8,  1816,  a  long 
list  of  rules  was  adopted.  Among  them  were 
the  following: 

That  the  regular  meetings  of  the  church  shall  be  holden 
on  the  first  Monday  of  each  month  at  3  o'clock  p.m. 

That  members  from  sister  churches  shall  not  have  the 
privilege  of  communing  with  us  more  than  nine  months, 
without  uniting  with  the  church  by  taking  upon  them 
the  covenant,  after  an  examination,  unless  some  satis- 
factory reason  shall  be  given  why  they  should  not  thus 
unite. 

That  the  expense  of  the  communion  table  shall  be 
defrayed  by  a  voluntary  contribution  from  the  members 
at  each  communion  season. 

An  entry  of  August  2,  1818,  reads,  "  Everard 
Peck  was  appointed  a  delegate  to  the  synod 
to  be  held  at  Auburn,  on  Wednesday,  to  con- 
sult about  establishing  a  Theological  Semi- 
nary." The  ordeal  of  examination  by  the 
Session  before  joining  the  church  is  indicated 
in  a  typical  minute  dated  April  i,  18 16: 
"  Azel  Ensworth  from  the  church  in  Palmyra, 
Nancy  Elliot  from  the  church  in  Rome,  Lucy 
Williams  from  a  church  in  Wethersfield,  and 
Patty  Stone  expressed  their  desire  of  becom- 
ing members  of  the  church  in  this  place. 
They  gave  a  reason  of  their  hope,  were  exam- 
ined as  to  their  experimental  and  doctrinal 
knowledge  of  religion,  and  approved."  An 
entry  of  March  25,  1819,  is,  "The  church 
25 


First  Church  Chronicles 

resolved  to  observe  the  recommendation  of 
the  General  Assembly,  and  once  a  quarter 
assemble  with  their  baptized  children  to 
enforce  the  mutual  duties  of  parents  and 
children,  and  explain  the  obligations  result- 
ing from  the  ordinance  of  baptism." 

In  September  of  1817  the  Brighton  Church 
was  formed  as  an  offspring  of  the  First, — a 
quarter  of  the  original  membership  of  the 
mother  church  leaving  the  original  trail  to 
break  this  new  path.  The  four  who  went 
were  Daniel  West,  Warren  Brown,  and  Henry 
and  Hannah  Donnellj^ — one  of  the  two  first 
Deacons  and  the  two  first  Elders  of  the  First 
church;  but  they  went  with  their  pastor's 
blessing  and  he  even  helped  them  to  start 
the  church.  Donnelly  and  West  were  at 
once  made  Deacons  of  it. 

On  the  opening  of  the  first  Sunday  School, 
the  session  records  contain  this  entr}^:  "April 
26,  1 818,  a  Sunday  School  was  opened  to-da}'' 
for  the  instruction  of  children  in  the  first 
principles  of  religion.  About  sixty  attended." 
The  school  met  in  the  summers,  in  the  dis- 
tr.ct  school  house  on  Fitzhugh  Street;  but 
it  was  suspended  in  winter,  when  the  roads 
were  bad.  Yet  the  teachers  took  their  work 
most  seriously  as  the  "  B3  e-laws  and  Regula- 

26 


First  Church  Chronicles 

tions,"  adopted  "  in  full  meeting  of  teachers, 
May,  1818  "  shows: 

1st.  Any  person  may  become  a  teacher  in  this  school 
upon  being  recommended  by  one  of  the  teachers  and 
signing  his  or  her  name  to  the  bye-laws  and  pledge  an- 
nexed. 

2d.  Every  teacher  shall  consider  him  or  herself  bound 
to  use  every  exertion  to  increase  the  numbers  and  pro- 
mote the  general  prosperity  of  the  school. 

3d.  The  teachers  attached  to  this  school  shall  meet 
weekly  for  prayer,  examining  and  conversing  upon  the 
lesson  and  attending  to  any  business  which  the  interests 
of  the  school  may  require,  and  each  member  shall  con- 
sider it  their  dut}^  to  attend  promptly  and  prepared  to 
contribute  to  make  the  meetings  interesting  and  profit- 
able. 

4th.  The  teachers  at  their  first  meeting  in  January 
in  each  year  shall  elect  by  ballot  a  superintendent,  sec- 
retary and  librarian. 

5th.  Any  teacher  who  is  found  sabbath  after  sabbath 
with  only  one  or  two  scholars  in  his  or  her  class,  or  in 
idleness  with  a  larger  number,  or  leaves  the  school  fre- 
quently before  the  exercises  are  closed,  shall  be  deemed 
to  merit  censure. 

6th.  Any  teacher  who  shall  be  absent  from  his  or  her 
class  two  sabbaths  in  succession  without  having  pro- 
vided a  substitute,  or  informing  the  superintendent 
that  he  may  provide  for  it,  shall  be  considered  highly 
censurable,  and  if  thus  absent  the  third  sabbath,  shall 
no  longer  be  considered  a  teacher,  unless  satisfactory 
reasons  for  such  neglect  are  given  to  the  superintendent, 
nor  ever  afterward  admitted  without  giving  evidence 
of  reformation. 

7th.  Neither  teachers  nor  scholars  shall  be  permitted 
to  visit  the  library  during  the  school,  the  books  shall  be 

27 


First  Church  Chronicles 

distributed  once  in  two  weeks  but  no  scholar  shall  be 
entitled  to  receive  a  book  who  has  not  returned  all  pre- 
viously taken. 

8th.  It  shall  be  considered  the  indispensable  duty  of 
every  teacher,  when  any  of  their  scholars  are  absent 
from  the  school,  to  visit  them  previous  to  the  next  sab- 
bath, and  endeavor  to  ensure  their  prompt  attendance 
in  the  future. 

9th.  Teachers  shall  consider  it  their  duty  to  become 
acquainted  with  the  parents  of  their  scholars  and  en- 
deavor to  secure  their  cooperation. 

loth.  When  a  scholar  intends  leaving  the  school,  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  his  or  her  teacher  to  inform  the 
superintendent,  that  a  certificate  may  be  given. 

nth.  Every  teacher  shall  make  up  a  report  of  the  state 
of  his  or  her  class  and  furnish  it  to  the  superintendent 
previous  to  the  first  teachers'  meeting  in  each  month. 

I2th.  A  summary  of  the  teachers'  reports  shall  be  en- 
tered upon  the  records  of  the  school  and  from  these  a 
regular  written  report  shall  be  made  up  by  the  secretary 
for  the  monthly  concert. 

13th.  The  librarian  shall  make  a  monthly  report  of 
all  books  not  returned  to  the  library  and  the  names  of 
the  teachers  in  whose  hands  they  were  last  placed,  who 
shall  either  have  the  books  returned  forthwith  or  pay 
their  value  to  the  librarian. 

14th.  Each  teacher  shall  be  considered  responsible 
for  order  and  decorum  on  the  part  of  their  pupils  during 
school  and  shall  endeavor  to  secure  their  attention  to 
the  remarks  of  the  superintendent  or  any  other  person 
who  may  address  the  school. 

15th.  The  superintendent  shall  give  out  on  the  first 
sabbath  in  each  month,  "  a  subject  to  be  proved  from 
scripture  "  by  the  scholars,  which  proofs  shall  be  called 
for  on  the  last  sabbath  in  the  month  and  each  teacher 
shall  endeavor  to  secure  his  or  her  pupils'  attention  to 
this  subject. 

28 


First  Church  Chronicles 

i6th.  The  secretary  shall  keep  a  correct  record  of  the 
number  of  teachers  and  scholars  present  on  each  sab- 
bath and  of  additions  to  and  dismissions  from  the  school, 
conversions,  names  of  scholars  united  to  the  church, 
sickness  or  deaths  in  the  school,  names  of- visitors  and 
other  interesting  circumstances,  and  also  of  the  attend- 
ance and  proceedings  at  the  teachers'  meetings. 

lyth.  The  names  of  teachers  absent  from  sabbath 
school  or  teachers'  meetings  shall  be  entered  on  the 
records  and  the  reasons  for  their  absence  when  ascertained 
shall  be  entered  opposite  their  names. 

i8th.  The  exercises  of  teachers'  meetings  shall  be 
commenced  by  prayer  and  reading  the  record  of  the 
previous  meeting. 

The  vow  which  the  teachers  took  was  as 
follows : 

"  We,  whose  names  are  hereto  affixed, 
*  having  enhsted  in  the  Sabbath  School  Cause 
for  Life,'  and  feeling  the  importance  of  sys- 
tem,— in  order  to  produce  concert  and  uni- 
formity of  action  in  the  discharge  of  our 
responsible  duties, — do,  depending  upon  the 
Great  Head  of  the  Church  '  for  grace  and 
strength,'  solemnly  pledge  ourselves  to  adhere 
to  the  regulations  adopted  for  the  govern- 
ment of  this  school  and  while  connected  with 
it  to  do  all  in  our  power  to  promote  its  pros- 
perity and  usefulness." 

These  names  are  signed  to  it: 

Mrs.  Samson,  Ex.  Sth  article  George  A.  Avery 
Miss  Strong  T.  B.  Hamilton 

29 


First  Church  Chronicles 


Miss  Jack 
E.  B.  Smith 
Miss  Susan  Sedgwick 
G.  Biden 
Mary  A.  Leonard 
Clarissa  Smith 
Emily  Hills 
Jane  Wilson 
Eliza  Schellinger 
Charlotte  Black 
Amanda  Green 
Miss  Ward 
Margaret  Case 
Margaret  C.  Heney 
Chas.  J.  Hills 
Samuel  Miller 


C.  H.  Graham 

Courtland  Avery 
Horace  Winslow 
C.  H.  Sholtus 
W.  S.  Bishop 
Sam  D.  Porter 
W.  S.  Griffith 
Erastus  B.  Smith 
E.  Cook 

DeWitt  C.  Hollister 
S.  Davis 
Jno.  F.  Bush 
Joel  F.  Weed 
Hiram  Brown 
Wm.  A.  Reynolds 


The  instruction  in  the  Sunday  School  was 
undenominational,  all  distinctive  views  of  doc- 
trine being  carefully  avoided,  for  the  commu- 
nity Sabbath  School  was  able  to  maintain  its 
union  character  longer  than  the  church.  The 
first  Superintendent  was  Elisha  Ely, 

A  village  census  taken  in  1818  reported  1049 
inhabitants,  and  it  was  natural  that  some 
sectarianism  should  begin  to  assert  itself. 
An  Episcopal  church,  St.  Luke's,  a  Friends' 
Society  and  the  First  Baptist  Church  had 
indeed  been  established  within  the  few  pre- 
ceding months.  But  there  was  then,  as  always 
since,  a  strong  feeling  of  friendship  and  co- 
operation   between    the    churches,    and    when, 

30 


First  Church  Chronicles 

in  1818,  Bishop  Hobart  paid  his  first  visit 
to  the  infant  Episcopal  parish,  he  administered 
the  rite  of  confirmation  in  the  building  occupied 
by  the  Presbyterian  church.  In  fact,  among 
the  subscribers  to  the  first  little  church  which 
St.  Luke's  built  one  finds  the  names  of  several 
of  the  First  Church  fathers,  as:  Abraham 
Plumb,  who  subscribed  "  goods  "  to  the  value 
of  ^20;  Enos  Stone,  a  thousand  feet  of  lum- 
ber; E.  Peck,  "  in  books  and  stationary, 
^20,"  Jehiel  Barnard,  "  in  tailoring,  ^5." 
And  some  of  these  made  further  subscriptions 
at  a  later  date  for  the  erection  of  St.  Luke's 
"  steeple  or  cupola."  Thus  is  the  marked 
friendship  between  St.  Luke's  and  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  no  idle  tradition;  it  may 
be  traced  back  to  their  very  earliest  days.* 

Nevertheless,  that  differentiation  which  is 
the  law  of  all  growth  was  now  surely  develop- 
ing in  the  reHgious  life  of  the  community, 
and  on  April  6,  18 19,  in  the  First  Church  meet- 
ing house,  the  Rochester  Presbytery  was 
organized,  as  required  by  an  order  of  the 
Synod  of  Geneva,  promulgated  Feb.  18,  18 19. 

*  In  fact,  in  this  centennial  year,  the  bell  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  rang  to  announce  the  noonday 
Lenten  Episcopal  services  at  St.  Luke's,  two  blocks  away, 
because  the  bell  of  St.  Luke's  was  cracked! 

31 


First  Church  Chronicles 

All  the  ministers  of  the  Presbytery,  six  in 
number,  were  present;  but  Rev.  Comfort 
WilHams,  Hke  a  veritable  "  crew  of  the  Nancy 
Bell,"  was  elected  to  the  full  list  of  offices: 
first  moderator,  stated  clerk,  and  treasurer! 
For  the  two  years  preceding,  he  had  been 
stated    clerk    of    the    Presbytery    of   Ontario. 

Yet  the  Presbyterian  church  building  con- 
tinued a  community  center.  In  it  were  held 
the  village  Fourth  of  July  celebrations.  That 
of  1820,  we  are  told  in  a  diary  of  the  time, 
was  a  "  great  "  one  which  called  "  a  large 
concourse "  to  the  forty  by  fifty  structure. 
A.  Sampson,  later  an  Elder  of  the  church, 
was  orator  of  the  occasion.  On  October 
31,  1820,  the  Presbyterian  meeting  house 
was  the  scene  of  a  sacred  concert  which,  as 
far  as  the  records  show,  was  the  first  "  enter- 
tainment "  in  the  growing  village.  The  an- 
nouncement read  that  it  would  "  be  holden 
in  the  meeting-house  on  Sunday  evening; 
performance  at  6;  doors  close  at  7:30;  admit- 
tance two  shillings.  A  piano  forte  is  expected 
to  accompany  the  musick."  At  the  First 
Church,  also,  was  celebrated  the  first  instal- 
lation in  Rochester  of  Masonic  officers. 

The  next  year,  1821,  was  eventful.  There 
was    a    revival    in    the  Presbyterian  church  in 

32 


First  Church  Chronicles 

which  Josiah  Bissell,  Jr.,  took  a  prominent 
part.  He  had  been  to  Massachusetts  on  a 
visit,  and  "  on  his  return,  full  of  ardor  and 
spiritual  enthusiasm,  he  visited  the  prayer 
meeting  and  surprised  the  congregation  by 
repeating  Dodridge's  hymn: 

*  Grace  taught  my  soul  to  pray 
And  made  my  eyes  o'er  flow. 

'Tis  grace  has  kept  me  to  this  day 
And  will  not  let  me  go.'  " 

Mr.  Bissell  was  a  forceful  person,  and  as 
a  result  of  his  influence  there  was  a  spiritual 
awakening  which  led  twenty-one  persons  to 
unite  with  the  church.  In  March  of  that  year, 
the  Monroe  County  Bible  Society  was  founded, 
with  Dr.  Levi  Ward  of  the  First  Church  as 
president.  It  is  of  more  than  local  interest, 
for  this  Society's  custom  of  giving  Bibles  to 
those  who  were  unable  to  buy  them  led  later 
to  the  formation  of  the  American  Bible  Society. 
The  Confession  of  Faith  and  covenant  were 
modified,  and  the  members  of  the  church 
"  agreed  to  bind  themselves  to  a  greater 
faithfulness  in  duty  by  assenting  publicly 
to  certain  things."     The  new  Covenant  read : 

You  do  now,  in  the  presence  of  the  everliving  and 
heart-searching  God,  his  holy  angels,  and  this  assembly, 
avouch  the  Lord  Jehovah,  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the 

33 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Holy  Ghost,  to  be  your  God,  your  Redeemer,  your 
Sanctifier,  and  everlasting  Portion. 

You  give  yourself  (or  yourselves)  and  all  you  have  to 
him,  confessing  that  your  many  sins  have  deserved  his 
wrath,  and  building  your  hope  of  acceptance  only  on 
his  mercy,  manifested  through  the  atonement. 

You  do  of  choice  take  the  vford  of  God  as  the  only  rule 
by  which  to  regulate  your  faith  and  practice.  You  do 
cheerfully  engage,  depending  on  his  grace,  to  lead  a 
life  of  piety  and  devotion  to  God,  and  of  uprightness 
and  charity  toward  men;  to  keep  yourself  (or  selves) 
unspotted  from  the  world,  making  Christ  your  example, 
and  the  upbuilding  of  his  kingdom  your  supreme  object. 

You  sincerely  dedicate  yourself  (or  selves)  to  the  ser- 
vice of  Christ  in  his  church,  faithfully  covenanting  that 
you  will  walk  honestly  and  orderly  with  us,  in  all  the 
ordinances  and  institutions  of  the  Gospel,  and  that  you 
will  submit  to  the  discipline  and  watch  of  this  church 
of  Christ,  and  do  what  in  you  lies  to  promote  its  purity, 
peace  and  edification. 

You  also  engage,  depending  on  the  grace  of  the  New 
Covenant,  not  to  turn  back  from  your  profession,  but 
to  walk  with  God  and  with  his  people  all  the  days  of  your 
life.  Thus  you  covenant  and  promise  to  do,  depending 
on  and  seeking  for  grace  and  strength  from  God,  through 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

In  that  3'ear  also  a  Sabbath  School  Union 
was  formed;  and  Jacob  Gould  and  Samuel 
Graves  were  chosen  Elders  of  the  Church, 
and  Levi  Ward,  Jr.  an  "  Elder  with  the 
designation  of  Deacon  " — though  their  ordi- 
nation did  not  take  place  for  several  months. 

But  the  church  event  of  1821  which  most 
excited    the    community   was    the    resignation 

34 


First  Church  Chronicles 

of  Pastor  Williams.  On  May  nth  he  asked 
his  people  to  dismiss  him.  Action  was  "  de- 
ferred to  the  15th,  at  4  o'clock."  The  matter 
was  then  put  to  vote  "  by  requesting  the  mem- 
bers to  rise  in  the  affirmative.  All  arose  but 
three,  and  no  one  rose  in  the  negative.  So 
the  church  concurred  in  the  request." 

On  the  afternoon  of  June  loth,  Mr.  Williams 
baptized  fourteen  children  and  preached  a 
farewell  sermon,  taking  as  his  text  these  bitter 
words  (Psalms  IV,  6,  12,  13,  14): 

And  I  said,  "  Oh  that  I  had  wings  like  a  dove,  for 
then  would  I  fly  away  and  be  at  rest."  .  .  .  For  it  was 
not  an  enemy  that  reproached  me;  then  I  could  have 
borne  it;  neither  was  it  he  that  hated  me  that  did 
magnify  himself  against  me;  then  I  would  have  hid  my- 
self from  him;  but  it  was  thou,  a  man  mine  equal,  my 
guide  and  my  acquaintance.  We  took  sweet  counsel 
together,  and  walked  into  the  house  of  God  in  company. 

Regarding  the  cause  of  Pastor  WilHams' 
resignation  there  is  no  record  in  the  various 
histories  of  Rochester,  in  the  history  of  the 
churches  or  of  Presbyter}^,  nor  even  a  tradi- 
tion among  his  descendants.  In  the  archives 
of  the  church,  however,  there  have  been  found 
some  papers,  browned  with  age,  whose  faded 
ink  tell  the  full  story — the  reasons  why  he 
resigned  and  why  no  record  of  his  reasons  has 
been   found.     After    a    lapse   of  ninety   years 

35 


First  Church  Chronicles 

there   can   be   no   harm   now   in   copying   the 
most  pertinent  of  these  papers. 

The  following,  addressed  to  Presbytery  some 
months  after  it  had  received  and  acted  upon 
Mr.  Williams'  resignation,  states  both  sides 
of  the  controversy: 

The  Presbyterian  Church  at  Rochester  feel  it  to  be  an 
obvious  though  painful  duty,  as  well  out  of  regard  to 
the  opinion  of  the  Christian  Public,  as  in  vindication  of 
the  characters  of  their  members,  to  protest  against  the 
entry  on  their  minutes  of  the  statements  of  their  late 
Pastor  to  the  Presbytery  when  he  asked  to  be  dis- 
missed. 

His  first  reason  is,  "  Because  his  salary  is  not  sufficient 
to  support  his  family  and  enable  him  to  devote  his 
whole  time  to  the  ministry,  without  the  embarrassment 
of  attending  to  wordly  concerns." — The  Church  pro- 
test against  the  entry  of  this  reason  because,  he  has  been 
paid  a  salary  of  five  hundred  dollars  a  year,  chiefly  in 
quarterly  payments  and  principally  in  money;  has 
had  a  house  built  for  him  for  his  use  and  benefit,  which 
he  occupied  until  he  erected  one  on  his  own  farm,  and 
has  since  leased  it  out  for  seventy-five  dollars  a  year. 
He  has  also  received  no  inconsiderable  amount  in 
voluntary  presents  from  individuals  of  the  Society, 
consisting  of  money,  clothing  for  himself  and  lady, 
provisions,  furniture,  a  horse  and  a  cow,  exclusive  of  a 
minister's  usual  perquisites. 

His  second  reason  is,  "  Because  the  labors  required 
are  greater  than  he  can  perform  under  existing  cir- 
cumstances, he  not  being  able,  without  complaint  from 
individuals,  to  exchange  with  neighboring  ministers, 
and  to  go  20  or  30  miles  for  an  exchange  would  be  no 
relief  to  his  labors." 

36 


First  Church  Chronicles 


The  Church  protest  against  the  entry  of  this  reason, 
because  the  Church,  the  Society,  nor  any  considerable 
number  of  individuals  in  either  to  its  knowledge,  never 
expressed  the  sentiment  it  contains. 

His  third  reason  is,  "  Because  individuals  have  been 
disposed  to  consider  him  the  cause  of  scattering  the  con- 
gregation, when  many  have  given  it  as  a  reason  why 
they  have  not  contributed  to  support  him,  that  they 
have  no  seats  in  the  meeting  house  and  would  have 
none  so  long  as  that  house  was  owned  by  a  company  and 
made  a  matter  of  speculation."  The  Church  protests 
against  the  entry  of  this  reason  because,  if  actually  so, 
it  furnishes  no  excuse  for  a  minister  to  abandon  his 
flock. 

His  fourth  and  last  reason  is,  "  Because  some  indi- 
viduals, of  whom  the  majority  either  belonged  to  the 
Church  or  were  propounded  for  admission,  have,  for  some 
time  past,  been  anxious  for  a  change  of  ministers,  that 
they  may  have  a  more  popular  man,  and  those  individ- 
uals have  of  late  been  in  a  secret  or  clandestine  manner 
laboring  to  undermine  his  influence  thus  to  accomplish 
their  purposes,  and  this  too  in  the  midst  of  an  interesting 
revival."  The  Church  protests  against  the  entry  of  this 
reason,  not  however,  because  a  change  of  ministry, 
under  existing  circumstances,  had  not,  in  their  opinion, 
become  necessary,  but  because  in  his  charge  of  the 
secret  or  clandestine  labors  of  individuals  in  the  midst 
of  a  revival,  to  undermine  his  influence,  he  has,  in  their 
belief,  greatly  erred. 

Oliver  Gibbs       1  Presiding  Elders 
Azel  Ensworth    [     of  the  said 
Dated,  October  i,  1821  J      Church. 

Resolved,  unanimously,  that  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Rochester  protest  against  the  entry  in  the  minutes  of 
the  Presbytery,  of  the  reasons  assigned  by  their  late  Pas- 
tor to  that  body,  for  his  request  to  be  dismissed;  and 

37 


First  Church  Chronicles 


that  Hastings  R.  Bender  and  Derek  Sibley  be  Commis- 
sioners on  the  part  of  the  Church,  to  present  the  fore- 
going Protest  to  the  Presbytery  at  Ogden  on  the  second 
instant  and  request  to  have  it  entered  on  its  minutes. 

Oliver  Gibbs       1  Presiding  Eders 
A?el  Ensworth    [     of  the      said 
Dated  October  i.  1821.  J      Church. 

Though  doubtless  the  little  community  was 
deeply  stirred  for  a  time,  Christian  charity 
and  a  forgiving  spirit  soon  manifested  them- 
selves on  both  sides,  as  indicated  by  the 
following  minute  of  "  a  meeting  of  the  church 
at  the  School  house,"  November  19th,  1821. 

Resolved,  that  whereas  difficulties  exist  between  the 
Rev.  Comfort  Williams  and  this  Church,  and  the  Church 
having  a  sincere  desire  to  effect  a  reconciliation,  the 
undersigned,  the  members  composing  the  said  meeting, 
do  request  that  Hastings  R.  Bender,  Elisha  Ely,  Levi 
Ward,  Jr.,  and  Josiah  Bissell,  Jr.,  be  a  Committee  to  call 
on  Mr.  Williams,  to  convey  to  him  the  feelings  of  this 
meeting  as  expressed  this  evening. 

Oliver  Gibbs  Levi  Ward,  Jr.  H.  Ely 

Eli  Ripley  Wm.  Neafus  Samuel  Graves 

Joseph  Stone  J.  Bissell,  Jr.  Jacob  Gould 

Azel  Ensworth  H.  B.  Bender  J.  S.  Green 

Elisha  Ely  Chs.  J.  Hill  David  Stone 

L.  Granger  Everard  Peck  Geo.  G.  Sill 

Ashley  Sampson  Robt.  Wilson  Charles  Magne 

The  meeting  adjourned  to  meet  again  on  the  21st  at 
6  o'clock  at  the  same  place — closed  with  prayer  by 
Deacon  Gibbs. 

38 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Nov.  2ist,  1821. 

The  Church  met  persuant  to  adjournment. 

Meeting  opened  with  prayer  by  Deacon  Gibbs. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  call  on  Mr.  Williams 
reported,  verbally,  that  they  had  performed'  that  duty, 
and  that  all  difficulties  between  him  and  the  Church 
were  removed,  it  was  hoped,  by  mutual  confessions  of 
regret  and  forgiveness.  The  report  was  unanimously 
accepted.     Meeting  closed  with  prayer  by  Jacob  Gould. 

It  is  certain,  moreover,  that  at  the  time  of 
his  resignation  Mr.  Williams  was  loved  by 
many.  The  number  of  baptisms  at  his  fare- 
well service  is  surely  significant  of  that, 
and  though  only  nine  of  the  original  sixteen 
members  still  remained — four  had  gone  to  the 
Brighton  Church — the  membership  of  the 
First  had  risen  from  sixteen  to  ninety.  The 
Path,  to  which  the  course  of  the  church  has 
been  Hkened,  was  now  well  out  of  the  forest 
clearing  and  had  become,  though  still  a  fron- 
tier trail,  prominent  and  firm. 

After  his  resignation,  Mr.  WilHams  continued 
a  resident  of  Rochester,  first  opening  a  school — 
in  which  Mortimer  F.  Reynolds  was  a  pupil. 
This  school  was  on  Exchange  Street,  where  the 
"  Herald  "  office  now  is.  Later  he  gave  pri- 
vate instruction  in  his  home,  on  that  part  of 
Mt.  Hope  Avenue  where  the  name  of  Comfort 
Street  still  records  his  forest  clearing,  and 
continually  he  rode  his  horse  or  drove  his  gig 

39 


First  Church  Chronicles 

to  preach  in  neighboring  settlements,  clergy- 
men being  few.  He  had  done  this  even  during 
his  pastorate,  and  a  little  pocket  blankbook, 
which  may  be  seen  at  the  Historical  Society, 
in  which  are  written  a  number  of  manu- 
script sermons,  contains  after  each  a  list  of 
the  places  and  dates  of  delivery.  One  list, 
for  instance,  reads:  Gates,  on  Great  Ridge, 
Aug.  I,  1816;  Lima,  last  Sab.,  Oct.,  1817; 
Carthage,  June  13,  1819;  Sandy  Creek,  Aug. 
24,  1819;  Penfield,  Apr.  16,  1820.  There 
appear  in  this  Hst  also  two  or  three  other  names 
which  are  hard  to  decipher.  Another  signif- 
icant memorandum  records  that  when  a  cer- 
tain sermon  was  delivered  in  Rochesterville, 
in  Nov.,  18 1 5,  there  were  none  present  "  from 
east  or  west  Ridge  " — in  other  words,  the  ser- 
mon was  still  available  for  use  in  settlements 
on  either  side  of  the  village. 

On  August  25,  1825,  four  years  after  his 
resignation.  Comfort  Williams  died.  His  wife 
had  died  hardly  a  3^ear  before,  and  four  little 
children  were  left  as  orphans.  He  was  buried 
with  Masonic  honors,  having  been  an  officer 
in  the  Royal  Arch  Masons.  An  obituary 
of  the  time  said  of  him,  "  as  a  preacher,  he 
was  searching  of  the  truly  pious;  and  awaken- 
ing  to   those   without   hope;     in   his   manner, 

40 


Cfrrr^^^o^  -/^J^^UJui^v^ 


First  Church  Chronicles 

affectionate  and  humble;  in  doctrine  evan- 
gelical. The  distinguishing  doctrines  of  grace 
were  clearly  exhibited  in  his  sermons,  and 
in  his  private  conversation,  experimental  reli- 
gion was  a  topic  of  great  interest.  His  mind 
was  highly  cultivated  and  improved;  his 
style  as  a  writer  was  neat,  chaste  and  pure, 
and  often  uncommonly  strong  and  lucid.  His 
whole  soul  seemed  peculiarly  moulded  to  the 
Gospel  which  it  was  his  delight  to  preach." 

Two  weeks  after  Mr.  Williams'  farewell 
sermon,  the  Session  voted  that  the  church 
be  asked  to  observe  July  7th  "  as  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer  on  account  of  being  desti- 
tute of  a  pastor."  This  note,  also  in  the 
Session  records  of  that  year,  offers  a  striking 
picture:  "  Public  worship  was  constantly 
maintained  from  the  dismission  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Williams  until  the  settlement  of  his  successor. 
It  was  so  directed  by  divine  Providence  that 
there  was  preaching  every  Sabbath  during 
the  whole  time,  excepting  two  whole  and 
two  half  days,  at  which  times  service  was 
attended  and  sermons  read.  So  certain  of 
having  preaching  did  some  individuals  feel  as 
not  to  have  doubts  about  it  when  no  minister 
had  come  so  late  as  Saturday  night,  and  though 
they  had  heard  of  none  that  was  expected, 
41 


First  Church  Chronicles 

So  careful  was  a  most  merciful  Redeemer  to 
take  care  and  feed  the  little  flock,  which  was 
not  only  seemingly  without  a  teacher,  but 
encompassed  with  great  difficulties,  dangers 
and  distresses  both  within  and  without." 
It  was  during  this  period,  on  Sept.  i8,  1821, 
that  the  Synod  of  Genesee,  embracing  the 
Ontario,  Rochester  and  Genesee  Presbyteries, 
held  in  Rochesterville  its  first  meeting. 

IV 

Dr.  Penney  Takes  Hold 

Among  those  who  preached  during  the  pul- 
pit's vacancy  was  Rev.  Joseph  Penney.* 
The  diary  of  Mrs.  E,  Maria  Ward  Chapin 
contains  these  entries:  "  Sept.  2,  1821.  Had 
excellent  preaching  from  Mr.  Penney;  "  "  Nov. 
4,  1 82 1.  Mr.  Penney  preached  two  excellent 
sermons;"  "  Nov.  6,  1821.  Mr.  Penney  dined 
with  us;  much  pleased  with  him  in  the  family." 
Others,  apparently,  had  been  similarly  well 
impressed  by  him,  for  the  entry  of  March 
7,  1822,  reads:  "  Mr.  Penney,  Dr.  Stevens 
and  Mr.  Bender  drank  tea  with  us.  Mr. 
Penney  has  come  on  as  our  settled  minister." 

*  In  the  histories  Dr.  Penney's  name  is  frequently 
spelled  without  the  second  "e."  The  spelling  adopted 
here  is  that  which  he  himself  used. 

42 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Rev.  Joseph  Penney,  D.D.,  was  an  Irish- 
man, educated  at  DubHn  and  Glasgow,  who 
had  been  in  America  only  three  years  when 
called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Church  in 
Rochester.  He  has  been  described  as  of 
commanding  presence,  and  as  having  "  a 
warm  Irish  heart,  a  masculine  intellect,  large 
scholarship,  and  exceptional  ability  of  utter- 
ance." Dr.  Penney  preached  his  introduc- 
tory sermon  on  March  lo,  1822,  taking  as  his 
text  the  words:  "I  ask,  therefore,  for  what 
intent  ye  have  sent  for  me."  Mrs.  Chapin's 
diary  records  it  as  '*  a  well  written  and  appro- 
priate discourse."  She  adds:  "The  house 
crowded  with  hearers." 

The  coming  of  a  new  minister  was  taken 
very  seriously  in  those  days.  April  ist,  two 
days  before  the  installation,  was  observed 
by  the  church  with  "  fasting  and  humihation, 
that  God  would  forgive  the  sins  of  this  people 
and  bless  the  labors  among  them  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Penney."  At  the  installation,  which 
took  place  on  the  3d,  Rev.  Chauncey  Cook 
preached  the  sermon,  Mr.  Everett  made 
the  installing  prayer,  Mr.  Rawson  delivered 
the  charge  of  the  pastor,  Mr.  Winchester  the 
charge  to  the  people,  and  Mr.  Bliss  made 
the  concluding  prayer. 

43 


First  Church  Chronicles 

On  May  nth,  Dr.  Penney,  in  the  words  of 
Mrs.  Chapin,  "  set  off  to  New  York  for  a  wife." 
He  returned  with  his  bride  on  June  4th,  "  a 
cold  stormy  day."  There  is  a  glimpse  of  the 
social  amenities  of  the  time — a  feature  to 
which  the  First  Church  women  have  ever 
given  thought — in  the  items,  "  June  loth, 
called  on  Mrs.  Penney";  "June  nth,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Penney  called."  Possibly  signif- 
icant also  is  the  item  of  June  i6th,  "  Attended 
meeting  three  times  to-day."  Yet  it  is  very 
likely  that  such  action  was  not  an  unusual 
proceeding  on  the  part  of  faithful  members. 
The  hours  of  service  were:  10:30  a.m.  until 
just  after  12;  then  (or,  sometimes,  at  9  a.m.) 
the  Sunday  School,  and  then  an  afternoon 
service  from  2:30  until  4. 

In  1822,  the  Session  record  says,  "  Ebenezer 
Bliss  left  the  country  as  missionary  to  the 
Cherokees."  It  notes  also  that  the  pastor 
baptized  a  child  at  a  private  residence,  on 
its  mother's  "  particular  request,"  but  that 
he  performed  the  act  "  in  the  presence  of  a 
number  of  the  church  members,  called  by  the 
Parson  for  that  purpose,  he  disapproving  of 
private  baptisms  as  tending  to  superstition." 
The  Sabbath  School  Union  of  the  preceding 
year  was  supplemented  by  a  Rochester  Union; 

44 


First  Church  Chronicles 

and  on  September  17th,  Dr.  Penney  was 
elected  stated  clerk  of  Presbytery.  In  short, 
all  records  indicate  that  with  the  coming  of 
the  new  pastor  a  very  vigorous  hand  had  taken 
control.  It  is  interesting,  by  the  by,  to 
note  that  Presbytery  on  adjourning  its  evening 
session  in  the  April  meeting  arranged  to 
convene  "  tomorrow  morning,  the  sun  an 
hour  high  " — which  would  make  the  hour 
sixteen  minutes  after  six! 

It  was  in  this  year,  1822,  also,  and  largely 
among  the  women  of  the  First  Church,  that 
the  Rochester  Female  Charitable  Society  was 
formed.  Mrs.  Levi  Ward  was  elected  Presi- 
dent, and  Mrs.  Everard  Peck,  at  whose  home 
the  meeting  was  held,  was  elected  Treasurer. 
In  fact,  no  record  of  the  First  Church  would 
approach  completeness  without  chronicUng  the 
large  part  its  members  have  borne  in  all  the 
forward  movements  of  the  community. 

During  the  winter  of  1823,  Mrs.  Chapin's 
diary  repeatedly  mentions  attendance  at  *'  the 
monthly  concert  of  prayer,"  and  the  Presby- 
tery's *'  narrative  of  the  state  of  reUgion  " 
at  this  time  reports  "  a  more  rapid  progress 
in  the  reformation  of  morals  and  vital  reli- 
gion than  at  any  former  period,"  with  the 
monthly  concert  well  attended. 

45 


First  Church  Chronicles 

On  March  2,  1823,  there  is  a  record  that  Dr. 
Penney  preached  a  "  charity  sermon  "  which 
resulted  in  the  taking  up  of  a  contribution  of 
^40  for  the  Female  Charitable  Society.  This 
charity  sermon,  preached  sometimes  by  the 
clergyman  of  one  denomination  and  some- 
times by  that  of  another, — the  place  as  well  as 
the  preacher  changing  each  year, — became  a 
custom  of  the  town,  continued  without  inter- 
ruption until  1850.  It  is  interesting  to  observe 
that  even  to  this  day  the  annual  contribu- 
tion of  the  First  Church  to  the  Female  Char- 
itable Society  is,  perhaps  invariably,  larger 
than  that  taken  up  in  any  other  church. 

March  7th  was  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer 
by  the  church — "  a  very  interesting  day," 
says  Mrs.  Chapin.  On  the  9th,  which  was 
Communion,  a  hundred  and  fifty  communi- 
cants were  present,  and  it  is  evident  that  the 
spiritual  life  of  the  church  ran  deep  in  the 
months  that  followed.  In  May  the  Session 
voted  "  that  two-thirds  of  all  collections  on 
Communion  days,  after  first  paying  for  the 
elements,  shall  be  reserved  expressly  for  the 
purpose  of  procuring  furniture  for  the  Lord's 
Table;  and  that  the  Treasurer  be  desired  to 
loan  all  monies  over  five  dollars  to  good  men 
on  interest." 

46 


First  Church  Chronicles 

In  1824  three  Elders  were  elected,  Moses 
Chapin,  Russell  Green  and  Salmon  Scofield. 
A  County  Sabbath  School  Union  began  its 
long  Hfe.  Josiah  Bissell,  Jr.,  and  other  First 
Church  leaders  established  a  Hne  of  stages  to 
run  between  Rochester  and  Canandaigua  on 
week  days  only,  in  protest  against  Sunday 
travel — an  emphatic  assertion  of  high  prin- 
ciples which  did  not  prove  a  financial  success, 
though  there  was  a  large  body  of  public 
opinion  which  did  have  exceedingly  strict 
ideas  as  to  Sabbath  observance.  In  fact, 
after  the  canal  opened,  the  village  trustees 
prohibited  the  blowing  of  bugles  on  any  boats 
which  passed  through  town  on  Sunday,  and 
at  this  time  and  later  large  and  excited  meet- 
ings protested  against  Sunday  traveling. 

There  are  through  this  and  succeeding  years 
a  number  of  interesting  records  of  church 
discipline.  One  of  these  was  for  a  "  viola- 
tion of  the  sanctity  of  the  Sabbath,"  Late 
in  1825  the  Session  held  several  meetings  to 
hear  charges  and  receive  the  sworn  testimony 
of  witnesses  who  alleged  that  J.  H.  Brown 
and  his  "  hired  man  "  had  drawn  wood  on 
Sundays  to  keep  the  fire  alive  in  a  Hme  kiln. 
The  defense,  in  so  far  as  there  was  any,  was 
that  making  lime  was  a  business  that  could 
47 


First  Church  Chronicles 

not  be  stopped  on  the  Sabbath.  The  Ses- 
sion finally  voted  "  that  for  the  offense  of 
violating  the  Sabbath  Mr.  Brown  be  required 
to  draw  up  and  submit  to  the  Session  a  con- 
fession of  the  same,"  and  for  a  second  offense 
(which  was  a  remark  that  "  Mr.  Penney 
considered  regeneration  as  a  progressive  work, 
or  not  instantaneous  ")  he  should  receive 
"  a  word  of  admonition  and  advice  from  the 
moderator."  Mr.  Brown  "  cheerfully  con- 
sented "  to  the  judgment  when  it  was  made 
known  to  him,  and  the  advice  having  been 
given  "  the  Session  adjourned,  with  prayer, 
to  meet  at  the  Meeting  house  on  Thursday, 
the  22d  inst.,  to  communicate  his  confession 
to  the  church."  The  confession  was  as  fol- 
lows: 

Dear  Brethren: 

It  is  with  heartfelt  gratitude  that  I  meet  you  at  this  time 
privaleged  at  the  same  time  with  acknowledging  my 
sins  and  transgresions  of  the  laws  of  God.  To  Jesus 
the  divine  redeemer  and  to  you,  I  can  with  unfeigned 
sorrow  of  heart  adopt  the  language  of  the  holy  apostle, 
"  who  shall  deliver  me  from  the  body  of  this  death." 
I  am  a  sinner  by  nature  and  practice — I  have  a  number 
of  times  broken  the  holy  sabbath  in  the  prosecution  of 
my  business  of  burning  lime  on  that  holy  day,  as  if  in 
order  to  obtain  a  support  for  myself  and  family  required 
a  breach  of  the  holy  commands  of  that  God  who  is  the 
giver  of  Every  good  and  perfect  gift  both  spiritual  and 
temporal,  and  through  fear  of  loosing  that  which  I  was 

48 


First  Church  Chronicles 

in  some  measure  sensible  of  being  the  unworthy  recipient 
of  and  that  too  as  a  donation  from  his  fatherly  hand  I 
was  induced  to  break  his  holy  day  and  plead  it  to  my 
conscience  as  a  necessitous  case — how  astonishing  that 
one  who  has  for  a  number  of  years  exercised  a  scrupulous 
regard  for  the  sanctity  of  that  day  should  in  so  short  a 
time  be  found  in  the  snares  and  gins  of  satan  with  a 
half  stifled  conscience  and  a  benumed  sensibility — the 
last  time  that  I  worked  and  hailed  wood  on  the  Sabbath 
my  feelings  were  indescribable  but  some  of  my  reflections 
I  can  state — I  saw  my  neighbours  around  me  already  in 
the  gall  of  bitterness  and  my  example  instead  of  being 
abstemious  and  calculated  to  impress  them  with  serious 
reflections  would  as  a  legitimate  consequence  hurl  them 
into  destruction  but  as  for  myself  I  must  be  pressed 
down  underneath  them  all  into  the  hotest  hell.  But 
you  can  conceive  without  a  fear  of  being  mistaken  how 
completely  my  comforts  had  fled  and  gone — to  say 
nothing  of  the  excrutiating  pain  and  misery  that  possessed 
my  breast — and  now  brethren  I  heartily  thank  you  for 
the  course  you  have  taken,  for  that  humble  and  com- 
passionate brotherly  tenderness  which  actuated  your 
bosoms.  I  bless  God  for  sending  that  aged  and  beloved 
brother  at  first  to  reprove.  I  sincerely  thank  him  for 
commg  in  the  spirit  and  meekness  of  the  gospel  to  ad- 
monish which  has  served  as  I  humbly  hop  as  an  ex- 
cellent oil  to  my  head  to  soften  my  heart  and  awake 
my  sluggish  soul  from  stupidity.  I  have  time  and  again 
asked  forgiveness  of  my  compassionate  God  and  redeemer 
and  that  he  would  pour  his  holy  spirit  into  my  heart, 
direct  every  energy  of  my  soul,  control  every  thought 
and  action,  sit  a  double  guard  at  the  door  of  my  lips, 
stand  by  me  in  temptation,  make  a  way  for  my  escape 
to  his  glory  and  peace,  and  now  again  I  ask  pardon  of 
God.  I  ask  it  also  of  you  my  brethren — may  I  expect 
it,  when  I  have  disregarded  God,  grieved  his  holy  spirit, 
dishonoured  the  cause  of  the  blessed  Jesus,  wounded  the 
49 


First  Church  Chronicles 

feelings  of  my  brethren  and  wronged  my  own  con- 
science. I  ask  again  may  I  expect  it.  O  my  brethren 
forgive  and  pray  for  me;  make  me,  the  companion  of  my 
life,  and  our  children  subjects  of  your  special  and  ferved 
prayers,  your  ardant  supplications  at  the  throne  of  Grace 
that  God  may  sanctify  us  and  make  us  matured  temples 
of  his  holy  Spirit  that  we  may  love  the  truth  and  walk 
in  it  to  the  glory  of  God  and  the  honour  of  the  Church 
that  this  may  be  the  case  is  the  ardant  desire  and  prayer 
of  your  unworthy  brother  in  our  Common  Lord. 

John  H.  Brown. 
To  THE  Church 

But  the  most  notable  event  of  the  year  1825 
in  strictly  First  Church  history  was  the  dedica- 
tion, on  October  28th,  of  a  new  stone  church. 

V 

The  Church  Behind  the  Court  House 

Early  in  Dr.  Penney's  pastorate,  the  little 
frame  building  on  State  Street  proved  inade- 
quate to  accommodate  the  numbers  who 
were  applying  for  membership  in  the  fast 
growing  town.  After  mature  deliberation,  a 
lot  located  immediately  in  the  rear  of  the 
Court  House  had  been  purchased  from  Harvey 
Montgomery,  on  January  20,  1823.  The  title 
was  taken  in  the  name  of  Abraham  Plumb, 
and  the  consideration  was  "  $2000  in  hand 
paid."  The  corner-stone  for  the  new  church 
was  laid  on  the  28th  of  April,   1823,  and  ex- 

50 


First  Church  Chronicles 

actly  a  year  and  five  months  later  the  church 
was  dedicated.  Its  location  was  directly 
across  the  way  from  the  new  church  which 
was  being  erected  for  St.  Luke's  Episcopal 
congregation.  The  contract  for  the  latter 
was  entered  into  in  September,  1823;  but 
that  edifice  was  not  opened  for  public  wor- 
ship until  almost  a  year  after  the  dedication 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  it  was  an- 
other year  still  before  Bishop  Hobart  performed 
in  it  the  ceremony  of  consecration. 

The  First  Rochester  Directory  (1827)  con- 
tains this  description  of  the  new  First  Pres- 
byterian Church.  If  it  is  a  bit  flattering, 
let  us  remember  that  both  the  publisher  of 
the  book,  Elisha  Ely,  and  the  printer,  Everard 
Peck,  were  very  prominent  in  the  church. 

This  building  is  situated  on  the  south  side  of  Court- 
square,  and  fronts  the  court  house.  It  is  eighty-six 
feet  long,  sixty-four  wide,  and  thirty  feet  high  above 
the  base.  It  is  built  of  stone  covered  with  a  durable 
cement,  in  imitation  of  whitish  free  stone;  but  the  water- 
table,  window  and  door  sills,  caps  and  starts,  together 
with  all  the  projectures  of  the  masonry,  are  of  a  red- 
hewn  sand  stone.  The  platform  and  steps  extending 
along  the  front  are  of  the  white  Sweden  stone. 

The  front  of  this  building  is  a  design  by  O'Donell, 
in  the  Gothic  style.  Twenty  feet  of  the  center  is  occupied 
by  a  square  tower,  projecting  three  feet  from  the  face  of 
the  building,    and  both    the   tower   and    remaining   part 

SI 


First  Church  Chronicles 


of  the  front,  as  well  as  all  the  angles  of  the  building,  are 
ornamented  with  pilasters,  of  full  and  handsome  pro- 
jections, supporting  a  bold  entablature  and  cornice, 
both  in  the  range  of  the  eaves  and  over  the  several 
sections  of  the  tower. 

The  angles  of  the  tower  are  so  constructed  as  to  give 
each  the  appearance  of  a  prism,  or  cluster  of  four  pilasters, 
touching  each  other  at  their  interiour  angles,  the  faces 
of  two  and  the  edges  of  two  being  visible,  reduced  as  they 
ascend,  from  section  to  section,  till  they  emerge  as  pin- 
nacles at  the  top,  still  retaining  their  features  as  com- 
posed of  four  pilasters.  The  spaces  between  these 
pinnacles  are  finished  with  an  embattled  balustrade. 

From  the  tower  arises  an  octagonal  spire,  79  feet  high, 
divided  into  sections  by  bold  astragal  bands,  showing 
the  several  faces  conspicuously  pannelled.  The  whole 
height  of  the  steeple  is  150  feet. 

The  interiour  of  the  building  combines  great  conveni- 
ence with  good  proportions,  and  a  light  airy  appearance 
rather  than  laboured  ornament. 

The  vestibule  is  entered  by  three  doors,  one  in  the 
tower  and  one  in  each  wing.  The  stair  case  is  opposite 
the  center  door,  and  under  it  is  a  furnace,  from  which 
heated  air  issues  into  each  pew  in  the  body  of  the  church. 

The  pulpit,  which  is  low,  is  situated  between  the  two 
inner  entrance  doors,  and  occupies,  together  with  its 
stairs,  a  slightly  recessed  arch  of  20  feet  wide  and  33  feet 
high.  From  the  pulpit,  the  floor  has  a  gentle  ascent  to 
the  opposite  extremity,  and  the  pews  are  arranged  as 
the  chords  of  a  circle,  so  that  all  directly  face  the  pul- 
pit. The  galleries  are  much  inclined,  and  supported 
by  lonick  columns. 

The  steeple  is  furnished  with  an  excellent  bell,  of 
1800  pounds,  and  an  organ  of  14  stops  has  been  lately 
erected  in  the  gallery.  The  whole  expense  of  this  building, 
and  the  lot  on  which  it  stands,  including  the  cost  of  the 
bell,  amounted  to  about  ^16,000. 

52 


THE   CHURCH    BEHIND    THE    COURT    HOUSE 


First  Church  Chronicles 

From  this  description,  it  will  be  noted  that 
those  who  entered  the  church  had  to  face  the 
assembled  congregation — an  arrangement  which 
no  doubt  made  for  punctuality.  The  capacity 
of  the  church  is  given  as  about  850,  and  it 
is  well  to  emphasize  the  fact  that  the  front 
of  the  building  was  not  on  Fitzhugh  Street, 
but  north  toward  the  Court  House,  so  that 
the  structure  backed  upon  the  canal.  The 
Directory  description  can  be  further  supple- 
mented by  these  words  from  a  book  by  Cap- 
tain Basil  Hall,  an  eminent  officer  in  the  British 
navy,  who  passed  through  Rochester  in  1827 
and  says  in  the  volume  describing  his  travels: 
"  In  the  center  of  the  town  the  spire  of  a 
Presbyterian  church  rose  to  a  great  height, 
and  on  each  side  of  the  supporting  tower  was 
to  be  seen  the  dial  plate  of  a  clock,  of  which 
the  machinery,  in  the  hurry-scurry,  had  been 
left  in  New  York."  The  "  hurry-scurry  " 
appears  to  refer  rather  to  the  general  bustle 
of  the  town  than  to  the  haste  of  the  church. 

It  is  possible  to  add  also,  from  the  reminis- 
cences of  those  now  living,  some  further  details 
as  to  the  interior  of  the  church.  On  each 
side  of  the  pulpit,  which  in  later  years  at  least 
was  not  low,  there  was  a  tab  column,  with 
a  "  big  round   oil  lamp."     Other  lamps  were 

53 


First  Church  Chronicles 

upon  side  brackets  on  the  walls,  and  in  a 
central  chandelier.*  The  woodwork  through- 
out the  church  was  painted  white  with  mahogany 
trimmings;  and  the  three  chairs  on  the  pul- 
pit were  upholstered  in  red  plush. 

On  the  auditorium  floor,  at  each  side  of  the 
pulpit,  there  was  a  large  square  pew.  Dr. 
Ward  and  his  family  occupied  the  pew  on  the 
one  side;  and  Dr.  Backus  and  his  family 
that  on  the  other.  The  corner  seat  of  the 
latter  was  always  occupied  by  the  mother  of 
Dr.  Backus.  It  is  told  of  her  that  once,  feel- 
ing a  mouse  beneath  her  skirt  during  service, 
she  sat  with  quiet  dignity  until  it  had  made 
its  way  to  a  point  which  she  could  reach, 
and  that  she  then  closed  her  hand  over  it, 
holding  it  in  captivity  until,  at  the  long 
sermon's  close,  she  could  go  out  without  dis- 
turbing divine  worship.  Of  such  stuff'  were 
the  mothers  of  the  First  Church!  Behind 
each  square  pew  there  were  two  straight  pews. 
Those  back  of  Dr.  Ward  were,  at  least  in 
1848,  the  seats  of  H.  A.  Brewster  and  Mrs. 
Blossom;  those  behind  Dr.  Backus  the  seats 
of  Elias  Pond  and  Wm.  A.  Reynolds.  The 
front  pews  of  the  central  tier  were  occupied 
by,  among  others,  Dr.  Chester  Dewey,  S.  Y. 

*  Gas  was  put  in  the  church  in  1849. 
54 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Ailing  *  and  P.  W.  Jennings,  A  long  table 
was  placed  in  front  of  the  pews  that  faced  the 
pulpitj  and  upon  this  the  men  of  the  congre- 
gation placed  their  hats.  All  the  pews  had 
doors,  and  on  the  doors  were  silver  name 
plates.  The  furnace,  of  which  the  Directory 
speaks  so  proudly,  was  supplemented  by  two 
large  stoves  at  the  back  of  the  auditorium; 
and  there  were  stoves  in  the  vestibule.  The 
big  wood  fires  in  the  latter  became  the  centers 
for  social  intercourse  on  cold  days  for  those 
who  had  driven  far  to  service.  The  large  sleighs, 
drawn  by  four  horses,  picked  up  passengers  as 
they  traveled  into  town.f 

Through  a  mistake  in  surveying  the  church 
lot,  it  was  found  that  the  new  building  was 
so  placed  as  to  encroach  several  feet  upon  the 
county  property  adjoining  on  the  north.  On 
advice  of  the  supervisors  appeal  was  made  to 
the  State  legislature,  and  on  January  i6,  1824, 
an  Act  was  passed    (Chapter  6,  Laws  of  1824) 

*  May  31,  1851,  it  was  resolved  by  the  Trustees  "  that 
S.  Y.  Ailing  have  leave  to  put  a  Gutta  Percha  tube  into 
the  pulpit  to  extend  down  under  the  floor  and  up  into  the 
slip  occupied  by  him." 

t  The  contractor  for  the  woodwork  of  the  church  was 
John  Biden,  and  for  the  stone  work  Andrew  Ward. 
The  latter  had  a  contract  on  the  new  canal,  and  he 
was  able,  by  utilizing  stone  taken  from  the  canal  excava- 
tion, to  give  the  church  a  low  figure. 

55 


First  Church  Chronicles 

which  read :  "  That  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for 
the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  Count}^  of  Mon- 
roe, or  their  successors  in  office,  to  grant  and 
convey  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Society  in  the 
Town  of  Gates,  in  the  said  County  of  Monroe, 
for  the  use  and  benefit  of  said  Society,  such  part 
of  the  public  square  or  ground  contiguous  to  the 
Court  House  in  Rochester  as  is  covered  by  the 
new  stone  church  of  said  Society."  And  then 
the  Board  of  Supervisors,  on  February  24, 
1824,  did  give  to  the  church  a  deed  for  the 
county  ground  which  "  the  stone  church  " 
covered.  Meantime,  arrangements  were  made 
for  the  sale  of  the  old  church  property  on 
what  is  now  State  Street,  and  on  the  14th 
of  April,  1825,  its  transfer  was  effected  at 
auction  to  Josiah  Bissell,  Jr.,  the  trustees  of 
the  stock  company  which  had  made  the 
original  investment  signing  the  deed  of  con- 
veyance. The  Second  Presbyterian  Society 
(now  the  Brick  Church)  used  it  for  a  time, 
and  in  February,  1827,  Mr.  Bissell  sold  it  to 
the  First  Baptist  Society. 

Dr.  Penney's  dedicatory  sermon,  preached 
Oct.  28,  1824,  was  based  on  the  text,  John 
IV,  21,  22.  It  makes  very  heavy  reading  now, 
but  it  was  so  highly  considered  at  the  time 
of  its  delivery  that  the  Trustees  requested  a 

56 


First  Church  Chronicles 

copy  for  publication.  This  was  given  readily 
enough,  though  in  the  letter  accompanying 
it  Dr.  Penney  modestly  declares,  "  Did  I 
consult  for  the  reputation  of  fine  or  finished 
sermonizing,  I  should  certainly  refuse  to  sub- 
mit this  hasty  sketch."  Some  clauses  out- 
lining the  hope  of  the  church,  read: 

My  friends,  if  we  only  adopt  this  day,  and  continue 
to  cultivate,  every  man  according  to  his  own  circum- 
stances, the  spirit  and  practice  of  true  and  spiritual 
worshippers  of  the  Lord  our  God,  what  a  Bethel  indeed 
will  this  house  become  to  us!  Truly,  we  shall  find  it 
"  none  other  than  the  house  of  God — than  the  gate  of 
heaven."  Here  shall  we  experience  the  presence  of 
the  Lord  in  the  midst  of  his  sanctuary,  and  we  shall 
"  flourish  in  the  courts  of  his  house,"  under  the  influence 
of  "  dews  from  on  high."  Here  our  old  men  shall  be  as 
"  pillars  in  the  house  of  our  God,"  and  our  young  men 
as  "  plants  of  the  Lord's  planting."  .  .  .  From  the 
influence  of  this  house  our  civil  institutions  shall  be  puri- 
fied, and  we  shall  "  prosper  in  the  work  of  our  hands;  " 
for  "judgment  shall  run  down  as  waters,  and  righteous- 
ness as  a  mighty  stream."  Hither  shall  we  repair  each 
sacred  sabbath  morn,  to  "  crowd  his  gates  and  sound 
his  praise;  "  in  our  prosperity,  to  express  our  gratitude 
and  joy,  and  to  offer  sacrifices  of  thanksgiving;  in  the 
day  of  our  trouble,  to  pour  out  our  sorrows,  until  the  Lord 
shall  hear  and  send  us  help  out  of  Zion.  Here  shall 
we  assemble  to  commemorate  the  death  of  Christ,  and 
dwell  with  holy  rapture  on  his  living,  his  endless  love. 
Here  shall  we  derive  from  faith  and  love  the  very  soul  of 
social  affection,  and  the  very  spirit  of  brotherly  kindness, 
of  genuine  friendship;  and  while  from  "  sabbath  to 
sabbath  "  we  witness  here  the  look  of  honest  estimation 

57 


First  Church  Chronicles 

and  undissembled  love,  reflecting  from  face  to  face,  and 
learn  to  look  upon  the  whole  goodly  multitude  as  our 
friends,  we  shall  say  of  our  Zion,  for  the  sake  of  these 
brethren  and  kinsmen,  peace  be  within  thy  walls,  and 
prosperity  within  thy  palaces! 

Finally,  when  on  a  bed  of  languishing,  we  shall  claim 
and  receive  the  sympathy  and  prayers  of  this  assembly; 
and  when  our  spirits  have  gone  to  their  rest,  our  earthly 
remains  shall  be  brought  hither  to  remind  you  of  mortal- 
ity— to  claim  a  salutary  sigh  and  a  parting  tear. 

Following  the  printed  sermon  are  several 
pages  in  small  type  of  Notes  and  Scripture 
references;  and  in  these  Notes  it  appears 
that  a  scornful  reference  to  "  divine  right," 
in  the  course  of  the  sermon,  had  been  seized 
upon  "  by  a  minister  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
as  an  occasion  for  a  publick  expression  of 
resentment."  At  great  length  Dr.  Penney 
endeavors  to  make  clear  his  wish  "  to  avoid 
censuring  the  religious  principles  of  other 
denominations,"  and  *'  never  to  solicit  con- 
troversy." There  is  printed,  too,  the  brief 
address  which  had  been  spoken  at  the  laying  of 
the  corner-stone,  when — "  Standing  on  this  spot, 
glancing  on  that  forest  that  lately  sheltered 
its  wild  beasts  here,  and  has  scarce  yet  retreated 
beyond  the  limits  of  our  habitations;  and  then 
turning  to  this  populous  village,  this  busy 
multitude,  those  publick  channels  of  commerce 
and   wealth,    that   hall    of  justice,    and    these 

58 


First  Church  Chronicles 

temples  of  the  living  God;  and  putting  our 
hands,  as  we  now  do,  to  the  foundation  of 
another  edifice  to  be  dedicated  to  the  cause 
of  morals  and  religion,  the  best  interests  of 
man  and  the  glory  of  Jehovah — a  feeling  of 
solemn  yet  pleasing  interest  comes  over  us 
from  the  years  that  are  gone." 

VI 

Some  Important  Events 

The  year  1825  was  marked  by  the  opening 
of  the  Erie  canal.  The  event  was  made  the 
occasion  of  a  great  celebration,  during  which 
Governor  Clinton  and  the  committeemen, 
who  had  come  from  Lake  Erie  by  boat,  dis- 
embarked beneath  an  arch  and,  forming  a 
procession,  marched  to  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church.  Behold  them,  says  Mrs.  Par- 
ker, "  all  Rochester  and  the  country  round 
about  falling  into  the  Hne,  even  if  the  majority 
of  them  must  wait  in  the  rain  outside,  while 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Penney  offers  prayer,  and 
Timothy  Childs  makes  a  stirring  address, 
which  the  newspapers  report  as  '  full  of 
words  that  breathe  and  thoughts  that  burn.'  " 

In  this  year  also  General  Lafayette  visited 
Rochester;  and  though  it  does  not  appear 
that  he  entered  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 

59 


First  Church  Chronicles 

it  is  certain  that  the  men  of  that  church  had 
most  to  do  with  his  reception.  Dr.  Levi 
Ward  headed  the  general  committee,  Hon. 
Jacob  Gould  and  Judge  Ashley  Sampson 
were  on  the  reception  committee,  and  Judge 
Sampson  delivered  the  first  greeting  to  him 
on  behalf  of  the  town. 

For  all  these  outside  interests,  the  church 
life  continued  very  active.  The  Session  papers 
of  1825  contain  voluminous  documents  refer- 
ring to  charges  which  Dr.  Penney  brought 
against  a  member  of  his  congregation  who, 
he  alleged,  had  been  guilty  (i)  of  "  rash 
judging ";  (2)  of  evil  speaking  and  detrac- 
tion; (3)  of  slander;  (4)  of  bearing  false 
witness  against  him.  The  Session,  after  hear- 
ing and  weighing  all  the  testimony  and  proofs, 
dismissed  the  first  and  fourth  charges,  while 
Presbytery  set  aside  the  third.  But  the  Ses- 
sion, though  declaring  that  the  fourth  charge 
was  not  sustained,  judged  that  the  defendant 
required  "  censure  "  under  it,  and  ordered  that 
he  be  suspended  from  the  church  until  he 
read,  or  caused  to  be  read  "  in  public  church 
meeting "  an  acknowledgment  of  his  errors 
and  a  statement  of  his  repentance.  The  cul- 
prit appealed  to  Synod;  but  Synod  sus- 
tained the  Presbytery,  and  then  he  made  his 

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First  Church  Chronicles 

public  repentance  and  was  restored.  It  is 
right  to  add  that  in  bringing  the  charges  Dr. 
Penney  stated  that  his  purpose  was  not  to 
gratify  "any  feehngs  of  a  personal  kind. 
I  have  already  tendered  him  my  forgiveness. 
But  It  IS  to  bring  him  to  such  confession  of 
his  errors  and  contrition  for  them  as  may 
enable  me,  and  others  who  know  his  conduct, 
to  restore  to  him  our  charity  and  fellowship 
as  to  one  who  had  erred  and  repented  and  might 
be  hoped  to  do  so  no  more." 

The  population  of  Rochester  had  grown  by 
this  time  to  about  5000 — 4274  by  the  village 
census  of  February,  1825,  and  5273  by  the 
State  census  of  August.  So  there  was  room 
for  another  Presbyterian  church,  and  the 
Second,  later  known  as  the  Brick,  was  organ- 
ized—the second  child  of  the  Mother  church. 
It  IS  interesting  to  find  that  the  membership 
of  the  First  that  year  was  188;  that  in  the 
next  year,  in  spite  of  the  new  church  to  which 
fourteen  members  were  immediately  dismissed, 
it  rose  to  195,  and  1827  had  risen  to  278. 

VII 

The  Sunday  School 

The  Sunday  School  development  also  was 
now  rapid,   as!^'might  be  expected  in  view  of 

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First  Church  Chronicles 

the  spirit  shown  by  the  pledge-taking  teachers. 
The  schools  were  now  under  their  respective 
denominations;  but  the  County  Union,  which 
had  been  organized  in  1824,  held  an  annual 
meeting  each  October,  when  the  schools  from 
nearby  villages  and  towns  came  to  Rochester 
and  assembled  with  those  of  Rochester  in  the 
Court  House  yard,  or  wherever  the  exercises 
were  held.  An  account  of  the  second  anniver- 
sary meeting,  which  was  probably  typical, 
says,  "  The  schools  attached  to  the  First 
Presbyterian,  the  Methodist,  the  Baptist, 
and  the  Second  Presbyterian  churches  assem- 
bled at  Johnson's  Square  at  half  past  nine 
o'clock  A.M.,  from  whence  they  went  in  pro- 
cession with  their  teachers  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  Court  Square.  The  schools  nearly 
filled  the  lower  part  of  that  spacious  house. 
The  number  of  scholars  was  rising  700  and 
and  teachers  100.  The  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  then  in  session,  the  Grand  Jury,  and  the 
Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  county,  having 
been  invited  to  attend  the  celebration,  were 
present,  together  with  a  collection  of  friends 
of  the  institution  from  the  village  and  from 
several  towns  in  the  county."  The  program 
included,  not  a  prayer  merely,  but  an  "  address 
to  the  throne  of  grace  "  by  the  pastor  of  the 

62 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Methodist  Church;  an  address  by  Judge 
Ashley  Sampson,  of  the  First,  who  was  pres- 
ident of  the  Union;  and  the  reading,  by  Dr. 
Penney,  of  a  hymn,  which  had  been  com- 
posed for  the  occasion  and  which  then  was 
sung  by  the  congregation  and  children. 

The  Sunday  Schools  had  continued  as  yet 
to  meet  only  in  the  summers,  except  that  of 
the  First  Church.  In  1826  that  had  become 
a  year-round  school,  and  one  of  such  success 
that  in  that  year  the  session  of  9  a.m.  was 
supplemented  by  another  service  at  noon, 
following  the  church  service!  This,  however, 
soon  proved  more  than  even  good  little  First 
Church  children  could  stand,  and  the  cus- 
tom was  then  begun  of  holding  Sunday  School 
in  the  mornings  during  the  summer  months, 
and  at  noon  during  the  winter  months. 

But  it  must  not  be  imagined  that  the  chil- 
dren of  the  church  were  lazy.  A  note  record- 
ing Dr.  Penney's  presentation  of  books  to 
those  children  who  recited  the  greatest  num- 
ber of  Bible  verses  gives  the  following  figures, 
among  others  that  are  equally  impressive, 
for  1823:  Emily  Strong,  aged  eight,  1070 
verses  in  seven  days;  Mary  Ann  Bissell, 
aged  seven,  1496  verses  in  twelve  days;  Amelia 
Ely,  aged  nine,  2127  in  ten  days;  John  Living- 

63 


First  Church  Chronicles 

ston,  aged  twelve,  1394  in  eleven  days;  Samuel 
Livingston,  aged  ten,  1548  in  eleven  days; 
Priscilla  Wilson,  aged  twelve,  4002  in  eleven 
days.  After  poor  little  Priscilla's  name  the 
word  "  dead  "  has  been  entered,  in  an  ink 
that  seems  no  fresher  than  that  which  recorded 
her  triumph. 

The  composition  of  special  h3^mns  for  spe- 
cial occasions  seems  to  have  been  popular, 
for  in  addition  to  the  record  of  that  used 
at  the  Sunday  School  Union  anniversary  we 
have  records  of  several  others,  as  of  one  with 
which  the  children  welcomed  Dr.  Penney, 
June,  1828,  after  his  return  from  an  absence; 
and  later  of  a  hymn  especially  composed  for 
a  missionary  event. 

VIII 

Subjects  of  Thought 

In  1826  the  Franklin  Institute  of  Rochester 
was  founded.  This  is  of  interest  here  because 
Dr.  Penne}^  of  the  First  Church  was  one  of 
its  original  projectors  and  a  dominant  force 
in  it.  The  Institute  later  was  known  as  the 
Athenaeum,  and  was  the  first  important 
literary  association  to  be  organized  in  Roches- 
ter. Much  later  still  it  was  absorbed,  as  re- 
spects its  funds  and  charter,  into  the  Mechan- 

64 


First  Church  Chronicles 

ics'  Institute,  with  which  the  First  Church  of 
to-day  maintains  such  neighborly  relations, 
while  its  books  formed  the  nucleus  of  the 
Reynolds  Library.  In  fact,  it  has  been  well 
said  of  Dr.  Penney,  by  one  of  his  contempor- 
aries, that  "  whatever  aimed  to  advance  the 
people  intellectually,  as  well  as  religiously, 
received  his  cordial  sympathy  and  earnest 
co-operation  ";  and  there  is  general  tribute 
to  the  vigor  of  his  intellect,  to  his  scholastic 
attainments  and  to  the  charm  of  his  conver- 
sation. He  had  a  special  interest  in  the 
natural  sciences  and  often  visited  the  village 
schools,  cheering  the  pupils  in  their  studies, 
attending  the  examinations,  and  offering  prizes 
for  excellence  in  study.  It  was  he,  also, 
who  constructed  the  sun  dial  which  stood 
from  1825  to  1870  on  the  green  between  the 
Court  House  and  the  church.  As  there 
were  few  public  clocks  in  the  early  days,  the 
accuracy  which  Dr.  Penney  gave  to  the  famous 
sun  dial's  setting  meant  much  to  the  com- 
munity. Dr.  Penney  has  been  also  described 
as  "  quite  a  genius  in  mechanics,"  who  might 
have  won  distinction  as  an  inventor.  His 
portrait,  painted  at  pubHc  expense  by  the 
famous  Gilbert,  long  adorned  the  walls  of  the 
Athenaeum;    and   in  the  study  of  it  one  can 

65 


First  Church  Chronicles 

easily  believe  all  the  good   things  that  were 
said  of  him. 

In  the  last  days  of  1827,  Abraham  Plumb 
and  Patty,  his  wife,  transferred  to  the  "First 
Presbyterian  Society  of  Rochester  "  the  deed 
for  the  church  property  which  they  had  been 
holding    in    trust.     The    event    is    interesting 
as  being  the  first  use  of  the  title  by  which  the 
society    has    ever    since    been    legally    known. 
In   this  year   the  Third   Presbyterian  Church 
was     organized,     twenty-two    persons     taking 
letters    to   it    from    the    First.     Among    those 
who  went  from  the  First  were  Elisha  and  Han- 
nah Ely,  who  had  been  of  the  original  sixteen 
and  always  prominent  in  the  church.     Other 
very    important    losses    were    Josiah    Bissell, 
Jr.,  and  Elder  Salmon  Scofield.     These  latter 
two  were  elected  Elders  of  the  new  church. 

The  strength  which  at  this  time  went  out 
of  the  Mother  Church  to  her  third  daughter 
is  representative  of  that  which,  throughout 
all  her  long  hfe,  she  has  given  to  her  children. 
But  their  success  is  her  success;  in  their  joy 
is  her  joy;  and  she  realizes  that  through 
their  ministry  her  service  to  the  community 
has  been  far  larger  than  it  could  have  been 
through  efforts  of  her  own.  So  we  see  the 
forest  trail  branched  into  many  parallel  paths, 

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First  Church  Chronicles 

and  these  becoming  the  reUgious  highways 
of  the  town. 

In  1827  also,  two  members  of  the  church, 
Rev.  Jonathan  S.  Green  and  Miss  Delia 
Stone  (later  Mrs.  J.  R.  Bishop)  sailed  for 
the  Sandwich  Islands  to  be  missionaries;  and 
in  1828  the  First  Church  elected  new  Elders 
in  the  persons  of  Charles  J.  Hill  and  Frederick 
Starr. 

The  subject  of  intemperance  began  strongly 
to  agitate  the  community  at  this  time.  In 
the  summer  of  1827,  Presbytery  adopted  a 
resolution  to  the  effect  that  "  the  intemperate 
use  of  ardent  spirits  is  an  evil  which  the  friends 
of  the  Redeemer  ought  to  unite  in  suppress- 
ing," and  it  urged,  with  an  explanation  which 
surely  was  needed,  "  that  the  temperate  use 
of  ardent  spirits  ought,  in  all  ordinary  cases, 
to  be  conscientiously  avoided  and  discouraged." 
In  the  following  year,  the  first  pubHc  temper- 
ance meeting  was  held  in  Rochester;  and  it 
was  in  part,  perhaps,  because  of  this  agita- 
tion, that  when,  in  1829,  Dr.  Penney  "  left 
the  care  of  his  people  for  a  season  and  went 
to  Ireland  to  visit  his  aged  mother  and  friends," 
he  took  with  him  a  zeal  for  temperance  which 
resulted  in  his  having  a  large  part,  perhaps  the 
leading    part,    in    organizing    the    first    efforts 

67 


First  Church  Chronicles 

made  in  Ireland,  and  some  say  even  in  Great 
Britain,  for  the  suppression  of  intoxication. 
He  held  public  meetings,  made  many  speeches 
and  organized  societies. 

It  may  be  well  imagined  that  after  his  return 
the  First  Church  took  a  prominent  part  in  tem- 
perance propaganda.  One  member,  indeed, 
Col.  A.  W.  Riley,  not  only  attained  in  this 
country  a  nation-wide  reputation  as  a  tem- 
perance advocate,  but  spent  two  years  in 
Great  Britain,  and  many  years  in  travel 
through  other  countries,  lecturing  to  crowds 
upon  total  abstinence,  and  always  at  his  own 
expense;  and  one  of  the  missionaries  of  the 
church,  Rev.  Dr.  Ward,  "  edited  the  first 
paper  in  any  language  of  India  devoted  to 
the  cause  of  total  abstinence." 

But  other  pubHc  matters  than  temperance 
were  agitating  the  community  and  the  First 
Church  in  these  days.  It  was  the  time  of 
"  the  Morgan  Affair."  With  Rochester  as 
the  center  of  the  anti-Masonic  feeling,  many 
clergymen  renounced  the  order  and  an  over- 
ture on  the  subject  of  Masonry  was  intro- 
duced in  Presbytery.  It  was  a  time  of  strong 
feeling  also  on  the  subject  of  public  amuse- 
ments, a  feeling  that  was  much  intensified 
by  the  actual  opening  of  a  theatre. 

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First  Church  Chronicles 

The  First  Church  was  never  far  from  the 
center  of  any  pubHc  affair,  and  late  in  Decem- 
ber, 1829,  Dr.  Penney  preached  a  sermon 
entitled  "  The  House  of  Mirth  "  which  went 
straight  to  the  hearts  of  a  large  number  of  the 
community.  Two  days  after  its  delivery, 
four  young  men — Seth  D.  Chapin,  George 
A.  Avery,  Thomas  J.  Paterson  and  Levi 
Burnell,  addressed  the  following  letter  to 
him: 

Reverend  and  dear  Sir: 

Believing  that  the  subject  of  your  discourse,  preached 
in  the  evening  of  the  20th  inst.,  is  one  which  should 
be  frequently  and  forcibly  pressed  upon  the  minds  of  all, 
and  especially  the  young,  the  undersigned,  with  other 
young,  as  well  as  elder  members  of  your  congregation, 
feeling  desirous  that  the  impressions  which  we  hope  and 
trust  were  produced  by  the  preaching  of  said  discourse, 
may  be  more  widely  extended,  respectfully  solicit  a 
copy  of  the  same  for  publication. 

Dr.  Penney  repHed  at  once,  his  note  begin- 
ning, **  Young  Gentlemen  and  Friends."  After 
disclaiming  thought  of  pubHcation  in  the 
preparation  of  the  "  discourse,"  he  sent  it 
to  them,  with  the  words,  "  It  is  herewith  sub- 
mitted to  your  disposal  with  ardent  wishes 
for  your  temporal  and  eternal  welfare.  I 
am,  etc..  Your  friend  and  Pastor,  Joseph 
Penney."     E.    Peck    and    Company    promptly 

69 


First  Church  Chronicles 

printed  the  sermon  in  a  pamphlet,  which, 
with  other  published  discourses  b}^  Dr.  Penne}^, 
may  be  seen  in  the  rooms  of  the  Rochester 
Historical  Society.  It  pictures  the  dangers 
of  frivolous  amusements  and  asks  what  the 
community  is  doing  in  the  way  of  offering 
counter  wholesome  entertainments. 

A  few  words  will  suffice  to  indicate  Dr. 
Penney's  pulpit  style.  "See,"  he  said,  "the 
youth  of  fair  and  early  promise.  Genius 
sparkled  in  his  eye,  and  an  honorable  ambition 
sat  upon  his  manly  forehead;  his  heart  was 
yet  warm  with  tender  emotions  of  filial  and 
domestick  love."  Then  he  pictures  his  grad- 
ual downfall  as  a  result  of  indulging  in  com- 
mercialized amusements,  and  says: 

Yes,  the  theatre,  the  circus,  and  the  billiard  rooms, 
of  our  own  village,  that  many  look  on  as  harmless  amuse- 
ments, have  been,  to  my  own  knowledge,  the  beginnings 
and  effectual  and  rapid  promoters  of  deep  corruption, 
infamy  and  ruin  to  some  promising  young  men;  and  there 
is  reason  to  fear  that  others  .  .  .  are,  by  frequenting 
these  places,  now  insensibly  sliding  into  the  paths  of 
destruction. 

His  peroration  is: 

What  provision,  we  ask,  is  made  for  meeting  and 
improving  this  unalterable  law  of  nature  in  the  character 
of  the  young.''  None!  One  class  of  the  community 
proscribes  and  frowns  upon  all  youthful  amusements, 
provoking   those   under   their  care   to   hypocritical   con- 

70 


First  Church  Chronicles 

cealment  or  upon  disobedience.  Another  class  has 
no  particular  scruples.  Both  agree  to  withdraw  their 
presence  and  patronage  from  this  whole  department 
of  the  publick  mterests,  and  leave  the  matter  to  the 
direction  of  the  strolling,  irresponsible  and  mercenary- 
panders  of  pleasure.  ...  We  leave  these  thoughts  for 
your  reflection.  .  .  .  We  leave  you  to  answer  this  to 
your  conscience,  as  you  shall  to  God. 

May  God  direct  you  to  such  a  sense  of  truth  and  duty 
on  this  subject  as  shall  issue  in  your  final  comfort  and 
joy,  and  in  that  of  your  dear  children.     Amen. 

It  may  be  well  to  remark  at  this  point  that 
Dr.  Penney  was  given  to  long  sermons.  The 
practice  of  course  was  common,  sermons  of 
an  hour's  duration  being  quite  the  expected 
thing.  But  Dr.  Penney  went  even  beyond 
the  customary  hmit,  so  that  on  one  occasion 
a  delegation  of  First  Church  people  waited 
upon  him  and  with  some  trepidation  asked 
him  whether,  in  mercy  to  the  children,  he 
might  not  somewhat  shorten  his  discourses. 
He  heard  them  through  with  perfect  courtesy 
and  then,  tradition  says,  he  answered,  "  Breth- 
ren, I  should  be  glad  to  do  so,  but  I  have  not 
time." 

During  this  period  also  the  church  was  not 
without  some  differences  of  opinion  in  regard 
to  doctrine.  But  tolerance  and  good  feehng 
prevailed,  and  in  the  catalogue  of  members 
which  was  printed  in   1829,  there  is  included 

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First  Church  Chronicles 

a  brief  form  of  Christian  doctrine  for  the 
acceptance  of  those  who  found  the  full  Con- 
fession of  Faith  more  than  they  could  wrestle 
with.  This  does  not  mean,  however,  that  the 
church  was  taking  itself  less  seriously.  A 
member  was  tried  by  Session  at  this  time, 
and  suspended,  for  having  said,  "  Devil! " 
and  "  I  swear  ";  and  for  having  stated  that 
"  he  had  united  with  the  church  because  a 
certain  young  lady  was  a  member  of  the 
church, — to  the  great  reproach  of  his  own 
sincerity  in  his  Christian  profession,  and  the 
scandal  of  the  church  of  Christ." 

IX 

A  Revival  and  an  Accident 

It  seems  clear,  as  one  looks  back,  that  the 
popular  mind  was  ready  for  a  religious  re- 
vival; and  in  1830,  in  response  to  an  invita- 
tion of  Presbytery,  Rev.  Charles  G.  Finney 
came  to  begin  his  preaching.  He  commenced 
about  the  first  of  September  and  continued 
for  a  full  six  months.  For  a  while  he  preached 
each  week  two  sermons  in  the  First  Church, 
two  in  the  Second,  and  two  in  the  Third, 
and  in  addition  there  were  three  sermons  on 
Sunday. 

Of  those  sermons,  usually  an  hour  long, 
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First  Church  Chronicles 

but  sometimes  lasting  for  two  hours  and  a 
half,  we  have  striking  descriptions:  "  First," 
says  one  writer,  "  came  his  clear,  searching 
awful  sermons  to  a  dead  church.  Sometimes 
he  scarcely  preached  a  word  to  the  impeni- 
tent for  a  week  or  ten  days.  But  false  hopes 
were  torn  up  by  the  roots.  Backshders  and 
worldly  professors  were  brought  trembling 
and  astonished  to  the  feet  of  the  Savior.  .  .  . 
The  church  being  aroused  and  praying  fer- 
vently for  God's  blessing,  he  was  then  pre- 
pared to  preach  to  sinners.  Beginning  with 
the  law,  he  showed  how  just  are  its  require- 
ments, how  fearful  the  violation  of  them.  .  .  . 
As  the  preacher's  clear  shrill  voice  rose  to 
its  highest  pitch,  and  penetrated  every  nook 
and  corner  of  the  vast  congregation  with  that 
terrific  sound,  it  was  almost  enough  to  raise  the 
dead — there  were  no  sleepers  there.  And 
yet,  that  same  mighty  man,  when  speaking 
of  the  love  of  Christ,  or  the  peril  of  the  soul, 
was  not  wanting  in  tenderness.  At  times, 
indeed,  he  was  moved  to  tears  and  entreaties 
enough  to  break  the  stoniest  heart." 

It  has  seemed  worth  while  to  give  this  de- 
scription somewhat  fully,  for  the  period  of  Mr. 
Finney's  visit  was  one  marked  by  revivals 
that  spread  throughout  all  Western  New  York, 

73 


First  Church  Chronicles 

so  that  Dr.  Hotchkin  in  his  history  has  called 
it,  the  "  year  of  the  right  hand  of  the  Most 
High." 

Presbytery  reported  accessions  of  635  mem- 
bers to  the  three  Presbyterian  churches  of 
Rochester — a  truly  remarkable  record  in  a 
town  of  10,000  population.  Of  this  number, 
the  First  Church  received,  in  the  year  ending 
April  I,  1831,  "one  hundred  and  fifty  per- 
sons from  the  world — ninety-two  at  one  time." 
"  The  grandeur  of  that  revival,"  it  has  been 
stated,*  "  is  not  to  be  estimated  by  numbers 
alone.  The  whole  community  was  stirred,  the 
highest  and  the  lowest.  Religion  was  the 
one  topic  of  conversation.  ,  .  .  The  change 
wrought  by  that  revival  in  the  whole  face  of 
society  was  simply  amazing.  Noise  and  con- 
fusion, rowdyism  and  lawlessness  passed  away. 
Sobriety  and  order,  industry  and  thrift  had 
taken  their  place.  The  only  theatre,  with 
which  the  village  had  been  dishonored,  was 
closed.  So  the  meetings  continued,  week  after 
week,  and  month  after  month,  rising  in  inter- 
est and  deepening  in  solemnity.  ...  It  is 
worthy  of  special  notice  that  an  unusually 
large  number  of  the  leading  men  of  the  place, 

*  Rev.  Charles  P.   Bush,  D.D.,  in  Historical  Address 
at  the  semi-centennial  of  Rochester  Presbytery,  1869. 

74 


First  Church  Chronicles 

the  lawyers,  the  judges,  the  physicians,  the 
merchants  and  master  mechanics  were  among 
the  converts.  .  .  .  That  most  of  them  were 
truly  converted  is  attested  by  their  lives.  .  .  . 
And,  to  his  honor  be  it  said,  that  Rev.  Dr. 
Penney,  then  pastor  of  the  First  Church  of 
this  place,  although  highly  conservative  and 
cautious,  both  by  nature  and  foreign  educa- 
tion, took  Mr.  Finney  by  the  hand  when  he 
first  came,  and  stood  by  him  to  the  last.  His 
church  was  open  for  a  part  of  the  meetings 
until  that  disaster,  the  separating  of  the 
walls,  by  which  it  came  so  near  falling  on  our 
heads.  .  .  .  The  revival  of  1831  did  not  end 
suddenly.  It  seemed  to  run  on  for  a  series 
of  years,  1832,  '33,  '34  and  '35  all  being  dis- 
tinguished by  special  effusions  of  the  Spirit." 
In  fact  in  1833  another  revivaHst,  Rev.  Jedediah 
Burchard,  visited  the  village  with  notable 
results. 

As  to  the  disaster  to  the  First  Church  build- 
ing, it  occurred  on  the  evening  of  October 
I,  1830,  when  the  structure  was  crowded 
with  people  who  had  gathered  to  hear  Mr. 
Finney.  From  the  auditorium,  no  columns 
supported  the  roof,  and  when  the  pressure 
spread  the  walls,  a  scantling  or  rafter  fell  over 
the  ceiling  and  broke  through  the  plastering. 

75 


First  Church  Chronicles 

There  was  immediate  panic.  Dr.  Penney 
at  the  moment  was  making  the  first  prayer, 
and  Mr.  Finney  was  kneeHng  behind  him, 
"  in  front  of  the  sofa."  It  appears  from 
Mr.  Finney's  "  Memoirs,"  "  written  by  him- 
self," that  in  the  crisis  the  First  Church 
pastor  did  not  act  with  that  assurance  and 
calmness  which  might  have  been  expected 
of  the  leader  of  a  flock,  in  the  attitude  of 
prayer  before  a  crowded  house.  On  the  con- 
trary, he  "  leaped  from  the  pulpit,"  almost 
jumping  over  Mr.  Finney,  and  ran  into  the 
street.  Mr.  Finney,  however,  got  to  his  feet 
and  then,  to  quote  his  own  words,  "  put  up 
my  hands  and  cried  at  the  top  of  my  voice, 
*Be  quiet,  be  quiet!'  Directly  a  couple  of 
women,  rushing  up  into  the  pulpit,  one  on 
the  one  side  and  the  other  on  the  other 
side,  caught  hold  of  me  in  a  state  of  dis- 
traction. .  .  .  The  scene  looked  so  ludicrous 
to  me  that  I  could  scarcely  refrain  from 
laughing." 

But  it  was  no  laughing  matter,  and  though 
no  one  was  seriously  injured  everybody  tried 
to  get  out  of  the  building  at  once.  There 
is  a  tradition  that  one  of  the  ladies  of  the 
church  raised  a  window  and  was  about  to 
jump  into  the  canal,  when  she  saw  "  one  of 

76 


First  Church  Chronicles 

the  most  stately  gentlemen  of  the  city  "  jump 
through  an  adjacent  window.  The  results 
to  him  led  her  to  prefer  to  take  her  chances 
at  the  door.  But  many  persons  did  go  through 
the  windows.  It  is  also  said  that  many  women 
had  come  to  the  church  that  evening  directly 
from  a  meeting  of  the  sewing  society,  their 
needlework  and  sewing  bags  with  them.  Next 
morning  a  collection  of  these  articles,  together 
with  bonnets  and  other  things,  was  displayed 
in  the  windows  of  a  store,  where  owners 
were  invited  to  come  in  and  identify  their 
property. 

The  fact  is,  the  church  had  not  been  con- 
sidered safe  for  some  time,  so  that  for  the  three 
preceding  weeks  the  Sunday  School  had  met 
in  the  Court  House.  It  was  now  necessary 
to  close  the  auditorium,  until  supports  for 
the  roof  could  be  set  up  in  the  middle  aisle 
and  the  outer  walls  strengthened.  The  latter 
was  done  by  constructing  buttresses  between 
the  windows.  These,  rising  above  the  eaves, 
were  surmounted  by  spires,  the  aspect  of 
the  church  being  thus  quite  altered.  Dr. 
Mcllvain,  a  later  pastor,  has  left  in  a  news- 
paper interview  this  reminiscence  of  its  changed 
appearance:  "  It  was  a  queer  old  church. 
The  outside  was  of  stucco,  and  upon  the  roof 

77 


First  Church  Chronicles 

were  eight  battlements — turrets,  I  guess  you 
would  call  them — and  capping  the  summit 
of  each  turret  was  a  bright  tin  star."  If 
Dr.  Mcllvain's  counting  of  the  stars  was 
correct,  we  may  now,  from  the  end  of  the 
century,  look  back  upon  their  number  as 
prophetic.  For  the  Mother-church  gave  birth 
to  seven  children,  the  one  church  growing 
into  eight.  It  might  be  said  of  it,  as  in  the 
vision  of  John,  *'  the  seven  stars  are  the  angels 
of  the  seven  churches." 

The  vestry  of  St.  Luke's  and  the  vestry  of 
St.  Paul's  offered  their  church  buildings  to 
the  congregation  of  the  First,  during  the 
making  of  the  repairs.  As  St.  Paul's  was 
without  a  rector,  the  latter  invitation  was 
accepted.  Dr.  Penney  preaching  there  until 
the  latter  part  of  the  winter.  It  is  interest- 
ing to  note  that  the  First  Church  congrega- 
tion took  their  bell  and  organ  with  them. 
But  the  Communion  service  of  January  2, 
183 1,  when  the  First  Church  received  a  hun- 
dred new  members,  was  held  in  the  building 
of  the  Second  Church;  and  a  year  after  the 
accident,  when  a  fire  damaged  St.  Luke's 
early  on  Sunday  morning,  Dec.  23,  1832,  the 
Presbyterians  were  able  to  reciprocate  the 
courtesy    which    the    vestry    of    that    church 

78 


First  Church  Chronicles 

had  shown  them — an  invitation  which  St. 
Luke's  accepted. 

The  year  1831  made  history  for  the  church 
in  various  ways.  Besides  the  repair  and 
strengthening  of  the  edifice,  a  brick  chapel 
was  built  on  the  east,  or  Irving  Place,  side, 
separated  from  the  church  building  by  a  walk. 
The  Sunday  School  was  held  in  this  structure, 
in  which  a  striking  feature  of  the  interior 
decoration  was  a  tablet  on  either  side  of  the 
Superintendent's  platform,  bearing  in  gilt  let- 
ters the  names  and  ages  of  the  children  who 
had  died — the  girls  on  the  one  side,  the  boys 
on  the  other — an  impressive  reminder  to 
youthful  exuberance  that  Death  seizes  upon 
the  young  as  well  as  upon  the  old.  Directly 
back  of  the  platform  was  a  map  of  Palestine. 

The  first  Mission  School  was  started  in  1831 
by  Mrs.  Penney  and  Miss  Harriet  Hatch. 
*'  They  made,"  says  the  History  of  Rochester 
Presbytery,  "  special  efforts  to  gather  in  the 
neglected  little  children  from  the  highways 
and  resorts  of  dissipation.  The  lad}^  members 
of  the  church  furnished  a  band  of  devoted 
helpers,  while  the  church  sustained  the  enter- 
prise with  Hberal  contributions,  so  that  the 
work  was  prosecuted  with  much  vigor  and  suc- 
cess."    In  that  year  also  there  was  a  wonderful 

79 


First  Church  Chronicles 

temperance  meeting  in  the  (old)  Brick  Church. 
Theodore  D.  Weld,  who  delivered  the  address, 
spoke  for  two  hours  to  "  a  vast  and  breath- 
less audience."  When  the  speaker  had  fin- 
ished, Dr.  Penney,  who  was  present,  waited 
for  a  moment  and  then,  advancing  to  the 
front  of  the  platform,  asked  those  to  rise 
who,  being  in  the  "  habit  of  using,  manu- 
facturing, or  vending  ardent  spirits,"  were 
willing  to  pledge  publicly  that  they  would 
do  so  no  more.  Several  rose  in  response. 
Immediately  afterwards  several  bars  closed, 
and  demijohns  and  liquor  casks  were  emptied 
on  the  ground. 

The  year  1832  was  marked  by  the  first 
cholera  epidemic  in  Rochester.  The  com- 
mittee appointed  to  deal  with  it  was  mainly 
made  up  of  First  Church  men,  and  the  grue- 
some story  of  the  year  is  illumined  by  the 
special  heroism  of  one  of  them — Ashbel  W. 
Riley.  It  is  recorded  of  him  that  he  went 
day  and  night  fearlessly  and  tirelessly  among 
the  sufferers  and  with  his  own  hands  laid 
eighty  of  them  in  their  coffins. 


80 


First  Church  Chronicles 

X 

Dr.  Penney  Leaves 

On  November  22,  1832,  Dr.  Penney  ad- 
dressed a  letter  of  resignation  "  to  the  Elders 
and  Trustees  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church." 
The  letter,  which  is  still  extant,  is  a  most 
affectionate  document.  It  states  that  he  had 
contemplated  the  step  for  some  time,  and  had 
"  hitherto  been  prevented  only  by  the  re- 
monstrances of  some  of  your  number  who 
urged  that  such  a  step  would  seriously  injure 
the  interests  of  the  congregation."  He  adds, 
**  The  late  distracted  and  scattered  state  of 
the  Society,  in  consequence  of  the  failure  of 
the  Church  Edifice,  seemed  to  bind  me  to  the 
Society.  .  .  .  This  is  now  past,  and  I  know 
of  no  embarrassments  now  remaining."  He 
gave  as  his  reasons  for  the  step  his  great 
interest  in  education  and  wish  to  devote  him- 
self more  fully  to  it;  and,  especially,  the 
injurious  effect  of  the  cHmate  upon  his  health. 
He  said :  "  I  shall  part  with  every  member  of 
the  congregation  as  from  a  dear  friend  and 
shall  never,  never  think  of  this  people  but 
with  affection,  gratitude  and  esteem.  .  .  . 
I  shall  leave  them  with  many  precious  recol- 
lections and  retain  no  painful  ones." 

81 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Very  regretfully,  his  people  accepted  the 
resignation.  They  adopted  resolutions  which 
record  the  feeling  "  that  in  losing  him  they 
have  lost  an  able  advocate  of  the  cross  and  a 
firm  and  confiding  friend;  and  our  village, 
as  a  man  of  service  and  sound  judgment, 
one  of  its  leading  ornaments,"  A  personal 
letter  which  was  written  at  the  time  says, 
"  His  leaving  will  be  a  great  source  of  sorrow 
to  other  congregations  as  well  as  our  own." 

Dr.  Penney  preached  his  farewell  sermon 
April  28,  1833,  taking  as  his  text  the  words 
(Second  Corinthians,  XIII,  11)  "  Finally, 
brethren,  farewell.  Be  perfect,  be  of  good 
comfort,  be  of  one  mind,  live  in  peace;  and  the 
God  of  love  and  peace  shall  be  with  you." 

The  church  was,  as  he  had  said,  in  a  highly 
prosperous  condition.  Its  membership  had 
risen  to  477,  the  highest  figure  it  had  ever 
reached;  for  the  fiscal  years  of  '31  and  '32 
there  was  reported  a  total  of  251  additions, 
of  whom  205  were  by  confession,  and  in  one 
of  the  years  there  were  85  baptisms.  The 
Sunday  before  Dr.  Penney  left,  Ashley  Samp- 
son and  James  K,  Livingston  were  ordained 
as  Elders,  having  been  elected,  in  accord- 
ance with  custom,  by  "  the  male  members  of 
the    iChurch."     The     letter     in     which     they 

82 


First  Church  Chronicles 

accepted  their  election  to  that  office  breathes 
a  spirit  that  must  have  meant  much  to  the 
church.  Stating  themselves  to  be  "  deeply 
sensible  of  incompetence  and  unworthiness," 
they  say:  "Of  ourselves  we  can  do  nothing. 
We  need  the  Holy  Spirit's  influence.  The 
pecuHar  circumstances  of  our  church  seem  to 
call  for  increased  effort,  prayer,  faith,  humility, 
brotherly  love,  and  every  Christian  grace. 
Shall  we  not  rally  around  the  standard  of  the 
cross,  renew  our  covenant  vows,  draw  closer 
the  chords  of  Christian  love?  " 

In  connection  with  Dr.  Penney's  interest  in 
education,  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  in 
1832  the  church  made  its  first  contribution 
to  educational  purposes,  so  far  as  the  records 
show.  The  sum  was  the  very  substantial 
amount  of  $675, 

After  leaving  Rochester,  Dr.  Penney  went 
to  Northampton,  Mass.,  as  pastor  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church.  Two  years 
later,  he  accepted  the  presidency  of  Hamilton 
College,  remaining  about  four  years.  During 
this  period,  some  of  the  members  of  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Rochester  made  them- 
selves responsible  for  his  salary,  offering  to 
be  thus  responsible  for  ten  years.  Brief  resi- 
dences followed  at  Nyack  and  Grand  Rapids, 

83 


First  Church  Chronicles 

and  then  Dr.  Penney  returned  to  Rochester, 
the  place  which  seems  always  to  have  been 
nearest  his  heart.  For  some  years  he  suffered 
greatly  from  a  nervous  affection,  and  finally, 
in  i860,  died.  His  wife  had  died  a  few  years 
earlier,  and  both  are  buried  at  Mt.  Hope. 

It  is  significant  of  the  affection  and  esteem 
in  which  Dr.  Penney  was  held  that  the  congre- 
gation looked  largely  to  him  to  choose  his 
successor.  He  strongly  recommended  D.  H. 
Riddle  of  Winchester,  Va.,  saying  of  him,  in 
a  letter  written  to  Dr.  Backus,  from  New 
York  in  May,  1833,  "  I  am  perfectly  confirmed 
in  the  good  impressions  I  had  previously  re- 
ceived of  Mr.  R.  He  is,  I  think,  the  very 
man  for  the  First  Church  of  Rochester  in 
all  respects — amiable,  talented  and  well  bal- 
anced." He  arranged  for  Mr.  Riddle  to  come 
on  at  once  to  Rochester,  saying  that  he  had 
assured  him  that  it  would  be  possible  to 
"  convene  a  congregation — say  on  Thursday 
evening,  or  on  any  week  evening,  when  he  may 
arrive."  The  letter  adds,  "  I  hope  Bostwick 
will  have  the  church  lamps  in  order  and  that 
a  good  congregation  will  be  convened.  Also 
please  to  place  a  good  psalm  book  in  the 
Pulpit.     There  is  none." 

Mr.  Riddle  came,  and  at  a  meeting  of  the 
84 


First  Church  Chronicles 

congregation  shortly  afterward  an  unanimous 
call  was  extended  to  him.  Mr.  Riddle  de- 
clined it.  In  fact,  notwithstanding  the  ear- 
nest efforts  of  Dr.  Penney  and  in  spite  of  other 
calls  that  were  extended,  the  pulpit  remained 
vacant  for  several  months,  largely,  it  seems, 
because  of  a  widespread  fear  of  the  severity 
of  the  climate. 

There  was,  however,  preaching  almost  every 
Sunday;  and  the  Session  kept  very  strict 
watch  of  the  congregation,  as  several  trials 
attest.  One  of  these,  for  instance,  was  of 
a  woman  of  the  congregation  who  "  did  on  a 
Sabbath  in  the  summer  of  1833  (particular 
day  not  known)  go  on  board  a  canal  boat  at 
Rochester  for  Buffalo,  and  she  traveled  in  the 
boat  on  that  Sabbath." 


XI 


Tryon  Edwards  Comes 

In  August  or  September,  1833,  the  Session 
invited  Tryon  Edwards,  a  young  man  of 
twenty-four,  who  had  been  graduated  from 
Yale,  and  was  then  completing  his  theological 
studies  at  Princeton,  to  come  to  Rochester 
to  supply  the  pulpit  for  three  or  more  months. 
Mr.  Edwards  replied  that  he  would  not  receive 
85 


First  Church  Chronicles 

his  license  to  preach  until  about  the  middle 
of  October,  and  that  after  that  '*  I  shall  wish 
a  rest  from  study  for  one  or  two  weeks,  before 
entering  upon  the  discharge  of  duties  such  as 
you  propose."  He  promised,  however,  to 
come  in  November  if  the  church  could  wait 
until  then.     This  was  agreed  to. 

Mr.  Edwards  apparently  gave  much  satis- 
faction, for  he  remained  until  late  in  March. 
He  then  returned  to  his  home  in  Hartford; 
and  on  the  assembling,  a  few  days  later,  of  a 
church  meeting,  to  ascertain  the  view  of  the 
people  in  regard  to  asking  him  to  become 
their  regular  pastor,  only  three  votes  were 
recorded  in  the  negative. 

There  is  a  letter  written  April  29,  1834,  by 
Dr.  Penney  to  Chas.  M.  Lee,  telHng  of  a  visit 
he  had  just  had  in  Northampton  from  Mr. 
Edwards,  who  then  had  under  advisement 
the  First  Church  call  and  who  apparently 
desired  to  consult  Dr.  Penney  before  deciding. 
In  part.  Dr.  Penney's  letter  reads:  "  My 
deep  interest  in  everything  which  pertains 
to  your  good,  as  a  people  dearly  beloved, 
leads  me  in  this  way  to  express  the  hope  that 
there  will  be  a  cordial  and  unanimous  com- 
pHance  "  with  any  reasonable  conditions  Mr. 
Edwards  names.     "  I  would  suggest  in  addition 

86 


First  Church  Chronicles 

to  what  he  proposed  that,  considering  his 
easy  circumstances  and  consequent  scale  of 
expenditure  during  his  education — the  rising 
expenses  of  a  city  life  and  the  pretty  certain 
prospects  of  a  family  to  support— the  sum 
of  $1000  without  a  Parsonage  will  be  found 
a  small  allowance.  Nor  do  I  think  you  will 
find  it  as  economical  to  pay  him  this  sum  as 
one  more  competent.  I  do  not  in  this  sug- 
gestion forget  that  you  always  paid  me  more 
than  your  engagements,  as  well  as  more  than 
my  dues.  But  that  surplus  may  better  be 
included  in  the  salary  now  as  the  hospitable 
habits  of  a  new  village  give  place  to  the  busi- 
ness formaHties  of  a  city.  I  need  not  say  after 
these  remarks  that  I  think  Mr.  Edwards  the 
right  man — I  do  firmly  believe  that  he  will 
do  better  for  that  church  and  congregation 
than  the  generality  of  that  class  of  ministers 
to  which  all  our  eyes  have  been  turned." 

So  Tryon  Edwards,  who  was  grandson  and 
great-grandson  of  the  two  Jonathan  Edwards 
who  were  presidents  of  Princeton,  was  in- 
stalled in  the  pulpit  of  the  First  Church  on 
July  22,  1834.  He  commenced  the  labors 
of  his  pastorate  by  preaching  a  sermon  which 
was  so  well  liked  that  when  the  city  celebrated, 
fifty  years  later,  the  semi-centennial  of  its 
87 


First  Church  Chronicles 

incorporation,  he  was  invited  to  return  and 
repeat  it  in  the  First  Church  pulpit. 

The  installation  exercises  were  described  as 
of  "  a  most  interesting  and  impressive  char- 
acter." Rev.  Dr.  Hawes  of  Hartford  preached 
the  sermon.  Dr.  Penney  was  present  and 
gave  the  charge  to  the  people;  Rev.  Mr. 
Wisner,  of  the  Brick  Church,  gave  the  charge 
to  the  pastor — describing  him  as  "  an  ambas- 
sador from  the  court  of  Heaven  to  a  rebel- 
world."  Rev.  Mr.  Eddy  made  the  ordination 
prayer,  and  several  other  clergymen  assisted. 
As  on  the  previous  occasion,  the  installation 
was  preceded  by  "  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer 
for  the  blessing  of  God  on  the  connection 
about  to  be  formed." 

We  have  two  contemporary  pictures  of  Tryon 
Edwards.  One  is  in  a  letter  written  by  a  mem- 
ber of  the  church  some  two  months  after  the 
installation.  It  says:  "  Were  he  of  more 
robust  frame  and  had  better  health,  he  would 
please  us  well."  The  other,  which  has  the 
advantage  of  looking  back  over  his  pastorate, 
says :  "  Enjoying  and  improving  the  advantages 
of  our  best  seminaries  of  Hterature  and  theol- 
ogy, with  a  mind  well  and  successfully  trained 
to  habits  of  thought  and  expression,  his  dis- 
courses (especially  a  series  addressed  to  young 

88 


First  Church  Chronicles 

men)  coupled  with  courteous  manners  out  of 
the  pulpit,  made  him  popular  while  a  resident 
here  and  will  give  him  a  long-continued  place 
in  the  memory  of  those  who  attended  his 
ministry."  During  most  of  his  pastorate, 
he  lived,  it  is  recalled,  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lee.  But  near  the  end  of  it,  soon  after  he  had 
followed  the  example  of  Dr.  Penney  and  gone 
East  for  a  wife— who  is  described  as  having 
been  very  attractive — Mrs.  Lee  wisely  thought 
it  best  that  the  couple  set  up  house-keeping 
for  themselves. 

Another  paragraph  in  the  letter  first  quoted 
above,  says,  '*  ReHgion  does  not  receive  the 
attention  from  our  citizens  which  could  be 
expected.  I  have  observed  that  we  are  re- 
luctant to  heed  the  judgments  of  God,  and  few 
are  converted  during  the  ravages  of  a  pesti- 
lence." The  reference  is  to  the  cholera,  of 
which  Rochester  had  renewed  outbreaks  in 
1833  and  '34.  Yet  the  church  kept  a  strict 
watch  upon  the  spiritual  welfare  of  its  mem- 
bers. During  this  period  one  of  the  oldest 
of  its  number  was  excommunicated,  and 
another  member  was  brought  before  the  Ses- 
sion in  trial  for  an  "  over  indulgence  in  ardent 
spirits  "  on  the  Fourth  of  July.  Witnesses 
testified  that  they  saw  him  walking  in  a  line 

89 


First  Church  Chronicles 

that  was  not  straight,  one  woman  stating  that 
she  watched  him  from  her  window  until  he 
was  out  of  sight. 

A  prominent  member  of  the  church,  Jacob 
Gould,  who  for  eleven  years  had  been  an  Elder, 
was  elected  mayor  in  1835— the  second  mayor 
of  the  city.  In  1836  he  was  re-elected;  and 
with  him  there  began  a  remarkably  long  Hst 
of  mayors  chosen  from  the  First  Church  con- 
gregation, and  even,  to  considerable  extent, 
from  its  Session!  The  list  includes:  Jacob 
Gould,  Thomas  Kempshall,  Charles  Hill,  Isaac 
Hills,  Levi  A.  Ward,  HamHn  Stilwell,  Maltby 
Strong,  Charles  J.  Hayden,  John  C.  Nash, 
Nehemiah  C.  Bradstreet,  and  George  W. 
Aldridge.  Of  course  in  the  old  days  the  trus- 
tees of  the  village  had  also  been  largely  First 
Church  men — as  Moses  Chapin,  Frederick 
F.  Backus,  Charles  J.  Hill,  H.  R.  Bender, 
A.  W.  Riley,  O.  E.  Gibbs,  etc. 

In  1836,  also.  Rev.  Henry  Cherry  and  Rev. 
F.  D.  Ward  of  the  First  Church  were  ordained 
as  missionaries  to  Southern  India  and  de- 
parted for  their  post;  and  Mr.  Edwards 
preached,  on  Thanksgiving  Day,  Dec.  15th, 
a  sermon  entitled  "  Reasons  for  Thankful- 
ness "  which  so  gratified  the  congregation 
that    the    trustees    published    it    in    pamphlet 

90 


First  Church  Chronicles 

form.  As  the  sermon  was  historical,  most  of 
the  cited  reasons  have  been  already  given 
here.  One  other,  however,  may  be  quoted, 
viz.,  that  "  the  first  white  person  born  in  the 
village  is  now  a  member  of  this  congregation." 
He  mentioned  with  gratitude,  also,  "  three 
charity  schools  sustained  by  our  ladies — one 
by  the  young  ladies  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  one  by  the  young  ladies  of  St.  Luke's 
church,  and  one  by  the  Rochester  Female 
Charitable  Society."  They  are  "  educating 
250  orphan  or  destitute  children."  Mean- 
while, it  should  be  added,  the  First  Church 
Sunday  School  was  extremely  flourishing.  It 
is  recorded  that  out  of  an  enrollment  in 
March,  1835,  of  232  pupils,  there  was  an  average 
attendance  of  202 — "  more,  by  twenty  or  thirty, 
than  any  other  school  in  the  city." 

XII 

Troublesome  Questions 

The  most  stirring  church  event  of  1836 
was  the  movement  to  organize  Bethel  (now 
Central)  Presbyterian  Church,  which  it  was 
proposed  to  locate  on  the  west  side  of  Wash- 
ington Street,  between  the  canal  and  Main 
Street,  on  the  very  lot  upon  which  stood  Dr. 

91 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Penney's  house.  The  plan  was  consummated, 
thirty-nine  members  from  the  First  Church 
taking  their  letters  to  it,  but  it  was  much 
against  the  wishes  of  the  First  Church  Session 
and  pastor.  The  records  contain  a  list  of 
those  who  proposed  thus  to  go  out  from  the 
Mother  Church;  a  series  of  resolutions  passed 
by  the  Session,  and  signed  by  Mr.  Edwards 
as  Moderator;  a  reply  from  those  who  favored 
establishing  the  church,  proposing  arbitra- 
tion of  the  subject  by  a  committee  of  forty, 
representative  of  all  the  churches;  the  Ses- 
sion's reply  to  that;  and  then  a  letter  to 
Presbytery,  by  those  desiring  to  start  the  new 
path,  in  which  they  promise  to  act  in  accord- 
ance with  Presbytery's  judgment.  The  first 
resolutions  of  the  Session,  which  are  dated 
March  29,  1836,  are  very  interesting.  They 
read: 

UNANIMOUSLY, 

Resolved, 

I.   That  we  regard  the  formation  of  a  new  church  in  this 
city,  at  the  present  time,  inexpedient.     Because 

1.  There  is  now  no  church  in  the  city  which  is  filled. 

2.  The  same  effort  which  will  be  demanded  to  gather  a 

new  congregation,  would,  as  we  have  no  doubt, 
bring  at  least  an  equal  number  of  persons  under 
the  power  of  the  truth  in  congregations  now  exist- 
ing; and  that,  without  the  proposed  expense  of 
time  and  money. 

92 


First  Church  Chronicles 

3.  We  deem  it  wrong  to  station  any  more  ministers  in 

places  as  well  supplied  as  this,  while  the  call  is 
so  loud  from  the  destitute  parts  of  our  own  land, 
and  especially  from  the  heathen,  for  hundreds  and 
hundreds  of  ministers  who  cannot  be  found;  and 
when  all  the  funds  that  cayi  be  raised,  are  at 
this  moment  needed  to  send  the  gospel  to  the  ends 
of  the  earth. 

4.  We  are  satisfied  that  a  large  portion  of  those  whom 

it  is  designed  to  benefit  by  the  proposed  eflfort, 
will  be  more  successfully  provided  for  by  the 
efforts  of  the  city  missionary  recently  appointed, 
and  also  by  the  churches  now  established,  which 
in  their  formation  had  this  end  before  them. 
If,  however,  these  reasons  are  not  suflRcient  to  satisfy 

the  brethren  that  the  proposed  undertaking  is  inexpedient, 

then 

Resolved, 

II.  That  the  LOCATION  which  they  have  in  view,  is, 
in  our  opinion,  DECIDEDLY  an  IMPROPER  location 
Because, 

1.  It  is  not  needed,  as  proposed,  for  the  boatmen,  etc., 

as  full  provision  already  exists  for  them,  in  the 
churches  which  have  already  been  alluded  to. 

2.  The  proposed  situation  is  too  near  to  churches  already 

erected,  while    there  is  still  a  portion    of  the  city 

within  which  no  church  is  located. 
Such  being  the  unanimous  views  of  the  Session,  al- 
though we  regret  that  the  proposed  enterprise  has  been 
projected  and  especially  that  it  has  been  so  far  matured 
without  consultation  with  the  Session  of  the  Church, 
and  although  we  rely  on  the  correct  Christian  views  of 
those  concerned,  to  remain  in  churches  already  organized; 
— still,  as  we  believe  that  our  brethren  are  actuated  by  a 
desire  to  advance  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer,  if  they 

93 


First  Church  Chronicles 

determine  to  leave  us  as  proposed,  we  now  see  no  reason 
why  we  should  rot  dismiss  them. 

In  behalf  of  the  Session, 

T.  Edwards, 

Moderator. 
Dated,  March  29,  1836. 

One  can  well  understand  the  reluctance  of 
the  First  Church  Session  in  this  matter  when 
one  finds,  in  the  Record  book  of  the  Sunday 
School,  a  memorandum  that  the  withdrawals 
to  form  Bethel  Church  included,  on  one 
Sunday  alone,  "  the  estimable  Superinten- 
dent, twelve  male  and  five  female  teachers," 
and  that  more  were  expected  to  go! 

The  church  had  another  trouble  about  this 
time.  It  seems  to  have  been  brewing  for  a  con- 
siderable period — in  fact,  the  seeds  of  it  were 
sown  in  1801,  long  before  there  was  a  settlement 
at  Rochester.  In  that  year  the  General  Asso- 
ciation of  Connecticut,  representing  the  Con- 
gregational Church,  and  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  had  agreed  that 
in  the  missionary  work  in  Western  New  York 
— for  it  was  all  missionary  work  in  those 
days — there  should  be  co-operation  between 
the  two  bodies,  so  that  a  Presbyterian  might 
be  pastor  of  a  Congregational  church,  or 
vice  versa. 

94 


First  Church  Chronicles 

With  the  development  of  important  towns 
and  flourishing  churches,  it  was  inevitable 
that  a  break  should  come,  and  apparently 
with  a  view  to  bringing  the  matter  to  a  head 
and  securing  a  definite  alignment,  the  Pres- 
byterian General  Assembly  in  1837  passed 
the  famous  Excinding  Act.  By  this  the  two 
Synods  in  Western  New  York,  together  with 
the  Synod  of  Utica  and  that  of  Western 
Reserve,  Ohio,  were  "  declared  to  be  out  of 
ecclesiastical  connection  with  the  Presby- 
terian Church  of  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica." The  resolutions  added  that  there  was 
no  intention  to  affect,  "  in  any  way,  the 
ministerial  standing  of  any  members  of  either 
of  said  Synods,  nor  to  disturb  the  pastoral 
relation  in  any  church;"  and  "all  such 
churches  and  ministers  as  wish  to  unite  with 
us  are  hereby  directed  to  apply  for  admission 
into  those  Presbyteries  belonging  to  our  con- 
nection which  are  most  convenient  to  their 
respective  locations."  Nevertheless,  the  action, 
which  seemed  to  Western  New  York  high- 
handed, unreasonable  and  cruel,  sorely  hurt 
the  feelings  of  the  churches,  especially  as 
there  was  attempt  to  justify  it  by  references 
to  irregularity  of  doctrine  and  action. 

Mrs.  Chapin,  in  a  letter  of  1837,  writes, 
95 


First  Church  Chronicles 

"you  have  read  that  our  General  Assembly 
have  cut  off  this  Synod  from  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Their  proceedings  have  been  dis- 
graceful." The  sentiment  thus  expressed  was 
widespread  among  members  of  the  excluded 
Presbyteries,  and  thereafter  that  of  Rochester 
stood  aloof  for  fourteen  years.  Commission- 
ers were,  to  be  sure,  appointed  to  the  General 
Assembly  in  1838,  and  they  went.  But  in 
a  few  days  they  came  back  again,  and,  making 
no  statement  as  to  the  diHgence  of  their 
search,  briefly  and  pointedly  reported  that 
they  had  been  unable  to  find  it!  In  1839 
appointments  were  made  again,  but  the  dele- 
gates found  only  the  "  New  School  "  Assembly, 
which  had  then  developed  as  a  result  of  the 
Excinding  Act.  No  further  attempt  was  made 
until  1854  to  send  Commissioners  from  Roches- 
ter to  either  of  the  two  rival  General  Assem- 
blies. 

Of  course  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
was  no  more  seriously  involved  in  the  dispute 
than  was  any  other  Presbyterian  church  of 
the  Synod,  but  its  prominence  and  natural 
leadership  brought  the  matter  especially  close 
to  the  hearts  of  pastor.  Session  and  people. 
In  fact,  Mr.  Edwards  was  Secretary  of  the 
convention  of   ministers  and  laymen  from  the 

96 


First  Church  Chronicles 

excinded  Synods,  which  was  held  in  Auburn 
in  the  summer  of  1837  to  protest  against  the 
constitutionahty  of  the  Assembly's  action. 

XIII 

A  Vigorous  Church 

It  must  not  be  inferred,  however,  that  those 
troublesome  matters  decreased  the  energy 
and  effectiveness  of  the  First  Church  itself. 
Perhaps  they  resulted  in  a  stronger  loyalty. 
Certain  it  is  that  in  1836  the  membership  had 
risen  to  512,  35  more  than  the  high  record 
under  Dr.  Penney;  and  that  its  contributions 
for  home  missions,  which  had  reached  $1000 
in  the  last  year  of  Dr.  Penney's  pastorate, 
rose  to  ^2500  in  1836,  and  to  $3839  in  each, 
1837  and  1838.  For  the  same  three  years 
the  gifts  for  education  were,  respectively, 
^2090,  ^5900,  $5900.  In  the  book  con- 
taining a  compilation  of  statistics,  made  up 
from  records  of  the  General  Assembly,  the 
comment,  '*  Strange  but  true  "  is  entered  after 
the  record  of  those  years.  The  large  gifts 
are  the  more  significant  because  1837  was  a 
year  of  exceptional  financial  depression. 

Two  new  Elders  were  ordained  in  1838, 
Charles    W.    Dundas    and    Marcus    Holmes. 

97 


First  Church  Chronicles 

The  letter  in  which  Mr.  Dundas  accepted  his 
election  suggests  the  spirit  which  then  ani- 
mated the  church.  Addressing  Mr.  Edwards, 
he  says:  ''Having,  as  I  trust,  prayerfully 
considered  the  election  of  myself  to  an  Elder- 
ship in  the  First  Church,  and  in  view  of  all  the 
circumstances  and  relations  existing  in  this 
Branch  of  Our  Beloved  Zion,  I  cannot  per- 
mit myself  to  decline  accepting,  and  taking 
upon  me  the  solemn  responsibility,  which 
Our  Brethren  have  laid  upon  me."  Levi  A. 
Ward,  elected  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
School  the  year  before,  remained  in  that  posi- 
tion for  fifteen  years. 

In  1838  the  Anti-Slavery  Society  of  Roches- 
ter, in  which  some  leading  members  of  the  First 
Church — as  Moses  Chapin,  David  Scofield, 
S.  D.  Porter,  etc. — were  very  prominent, 
were  hosts  for  a  State  convention,  and  in  that 
year  Presbytery  appointed  a  commission  of 
four,  of  whom  Tryon  Edwards  is  first  named, 
to  organize  the  "  Fifth  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  city  of  Rochester."  The  church,  sub- 
sequently called  the  *'  Fourth,"  lived  only 
ten  years. 

The  event  of  1839  was  an  unprecedented 
snowfall  on  January  26th-27th,  which  com- 
pelled the  omission  of  the  Sunday  School  on 

98 


First  Church  Chronicles 

the  27th,  and  the  cancellation  of  the  after- 
noon service  in  all  the  churches. 

In  1840  a  semi-centennial  celebration  of  the 
settlement  of  Western  New  York  was  held, 
and  Tryon  Edwards  was  selected  to  make 
the  prayer.  In  that  year,  too,  a  member  of  the 
church  signed  a  confession,  obviously  written 
by  the  pastor,  admitting  imprudence  in  the 
"  use  of  stimulating  and  exciting  substances." 
The  words  "  intoxicating  drinks  "  were  written 
first,  and  then,  perhaps  at  the  culprit's  request, 
marked  out  for  the  more  euphoneous  substi- 
tutes. The  act,  however,  is  agreed  to  have 
been  "  wrong  and  sinful,  injurious  to  my  Chris- 
tian profession." 

Later  in  the  year,  "a  sister  of  this  Church," 
whose  name  is  duly  entered  on  the  Session 
records,  was  stated  to  be  charged  by  "  pubhc 
rumor  "  with  cherishing  "  erroneous  and  un- 
scriptural  views,"  and  with  having  abstained 
from  attending  worship.  The  minute,  in  con- 
formity with  the  custom  on  such  occasions, 
then  reads:  **  Scriptural  measures  having  been 
tried  without  effect,  to  restrain  her  from  these 
errors  of  doctrine  and  practice, 

"  Voted,  That  the  Clerk  cite  her  to  meet  the 
Session  on  the  i8th  day  of  August  instant, 
at  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  at  the  Session 

99 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Room,  to  consider  and  act  upon  the  afore- 
said charges."  Later  the  Session  records  that 
the  sister  herself  gave  "  painful  and  conclu- 
sive proof  that  both  charges  were  true," 
and  "  further  measures  "  to  "  reclaim  "  her 
having  been  taken  without  success,  she  '*  has 
by  vote  of  the  Session  been  excommunicated 
from  the  church  " — a  verdict  that  was  by  no 
means  rare.  The  quotation  is  taken  from  a 
paper  which,  apparently,  the  pastor  read  to  the 
congregation,  for  immediately  after  it,  and 
before  he  announces  in  formal  words  her 
sentence,  he  has  interlined  these  notes  which 
formed,  we  may  suppose,  the  framework  of  a 
parenthetical  address: 

Time  when  errors  abound.  All  shd.  take 
heed.     Error  is  subtle. 

It  is  very  clear  that  exclusion  from  the 
General  Assembly  meant  no  laxity  of  dis- 
cipline as  far  as  the  First  Church  was  concerned. 
The  Session  records  of  the  period  abound  in 
trials.  There  is  found  also  this  interesting 
paper,  probably  read  from  the  pulpit,  for  it 
bears  the  notation,  "  Presented  two  times, 
Dec.  31,  1841,  by  Rev.  T.  Edwards:" 

I  am  requested  to  speak  a  word  on  the  subject  of  danc- 
ing as  a  recreation  or  amusement. 

Whatever  views  we  take  of  the  intrinsic  character  of  this 
100 


First  Church  Chronicles 


— all  must  agree  that  it  is  evil  in  its  tendency  and  directly 
repugnant  to  that  spirituality  of  mind  which  every  Chris- 
tian should  cultivate.  Besides  it  has  been  so  long  and  so 
universally  used  by  the  irreligious  and  even  the  abandoned 
of  every  kind  that  as  an  exercise  it  is  now  regarded  as 
exclusively  belonging  to  them.  Hence  all  sober-minded 
Christians  of  every  denomination  reject  it  from  their 
amusements  and  this  church  has  uniformly  looked 
upon  it  with  decided  disapprobation.  And  yet  the 
Session  are  from  time  to  time  called  upon  to  inquire 
after  communicants  who  have  been  treading  on  this 
forbidden  ground. 

It  was  thought  best  by  the  Session  that  the  church 
would  be  at  this  time  reminded  of  the  estimate  in  which 
dancing  is  held  and  to  make  it  distinctly  understood 
that  that  amusement  on  any  occasion  by  a  communicant 
of  this  church  will  be  considered  as  a  grievance  by  the 
other  members — as  bringing  a  reproach  on  the  church — 
and  as  cause  for  reproof  and  censure. 

And  permit  us,  Christian  parents  of  this  church,  to 
urge  upon  you,  the  duty  to  restrain  your  baptized  children 
in  this  respect,  and  to  give  such  direction  to  their  amuse- 
ments that  the  barriers  may  not  be  broken  down  (as  in 
this  community  is  alarmingly  threatened)  between  those 
who  fear  God  and  those  who  fear  him  not. 

The  city  was  stirred  by  religious  revivals  in 
1842,  conducted  again  by  Messrs.  Finney 
and  Burchard,  whose  earher  efforts  had  been 
so  notably  successful — the  one  speaker  "  ap- 
peaHng  to  the  intellect,  the  other  to  the  pas- 
sions." Doubtless  the  First  Church  shared 
richly  in  the  fruits  of  this  deeper  stirring  of 
religious   interest,   though    in   the   absence   in 

lOI 


First  Church  Chronicles 

these  years  of  any  reports  to  General  Assembly 
definite  figures  cannot  be  given.  It  has  been 
stated,  however,  by  Dr.  Bush  that  Mr.  Finney 
alone  converted  "  one  thousand  souls  "  in  his 
visit  of  1842. 

An  interesting  letter  from  the  files  of  that 
year  is  one  from  Mr.  Edwards,  very  nicely 
accepting  a  reduction  of  his  salary  from 
^1500  to  ^1200.  Under  date  of  "Monday 
evening,  May  i6th,"  he  writes  to  "  Hon.  M. 
Chapin  and  Hon.  A.  Gardiner,  Committee:  " 

Gentlemen: 

I  have  considered  the  statement  given  me  by  your- 
selves as  a  committee  of  the  ist  Presbyterian  Society, 
respecting  the  embarrassed  state  of  its  finances.  In 
the  prosperity  of  the  past,  the  Society  in  such  matters 
have  always  acted  most  liberally;  and  in  the  reverses 
of  the  present,  most  cheerfully  do  I  share  with  them 
their  burdens.  Will  you  therefore  please  request  the 
Trustees  to  consider  me  as  relinquishing  ^300  from  my 
salary  for  the  coming  year?  The  future  I  leave  to  their 
liberality,  should  my  necessary  expenses  be  increased. 
Or,  if  they  sh'd  not,  and  the  circumstances  of  the  Society 
sh'd  still  be  adverse,  they  need  not  be  assured  that  the 
occasion  will  cheerfully  be  met  according  to  its  need. 

That  the  fine  spirit  which  prompted  such  a 
letter  did  not  lack  appreciation  is  indicated 
by  a  communication  which  was  addressed 
to  Mr.  Edwards  during  his  vacation,  a  few 
weeks  later.  Signed,  "  Your  Brethren  in 
102 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Christ,"  it  seems  to  have  been  written  by  the 
Session,  speaking  for  the  church: 

Rev'd  and  Dear  Sir: 

We  received  and  read  with  much  gratification  your 
letter  addressed  to  our  Church  and  congregation.  While 
in  this  we  learn  that  the  welfare  of  your  people  lies  near 
your  heart  during  your  absence,  we  can  assure  you  that 
our  prayers  are  continually  offered  that  God  will  pro- 
tect you  in  your  journeyings,  .  .  .  and  that  he  will 
in  due  time  return  you  to  us  in  the  fulness  of  the  blessing 
of  that  Gospel  which  you  preach.  We  appreciate  as 
you  do  the  momentous  interest  of  that  relation  which 
unites  us.  Other  relations  may  for  the  time  more  engage 
our  attention,  but  none  will  appear  more  solemn  and 
important  in  that  day  when  minister  and  people  stand 
at  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ.  .  .  . 

We  rejoice  that  we  were  so  well  represented  at  Nor- 
wich and  that  the  next  meeting  of  the  Missionary  Board 
is  to  be  at  Rochester.  .  .  . 

We  have  thus  far  been  well  supplied  on  the  Sabbath 
since  you  have  been  absent.  Mr.  Bush  preached  the 
first  Sabbath  and  Mr.  Dickson  the  other  two.  Both 
performed  well.  Our  supply  for  the  future  is  uncertain, 
but  your  five  weeks  will  soon  pass  away,  and  then  we 
shall  greet  your  return. 

In  1842  Mr.  Edwards  edited,  with  a  memoir, 
the  works  of  his  grandfather,  the  younger 
President  Jonathan  Edwards  of  Princeton. 
It  may  be  added  here  that  several  of  his  own 
sermons  found  their  way  into  print — as  "  The 
First  Presbyterian  Church  and  the  Early 
History  of  Rochester,"  "  The  Monitions  of 
103 


First  Church  Chronicles 

the  Judgment,"  "  God's  Voice  to  the  Nation," 
preached  on  the  Sunday  after  the  death  of 
William  Henry  Harrison,  President  of  the 
United  States,  and  "Christianity:  A  Phil- 
osophy of  Principles,"  which  was  delivered 
before  the  Adelphic  Union  of  Williams  Col- 
lege. He  also  contributed  considerably  to 
the  periodical  literature  of  the  day;  and  in 
1842-43  he  dehvered  the  series  of  lectures 
to  young  men,  to  which  reference  has  been 
already  made.  In  1843  the  church  was  re- 
decorated and  thoroughly  repaired. 

It  has  been  already  suggested  that  freedom 
from  the  watchful  care  of  the  General  Assembly 
seemed  to  give  to  Rochester's  Presbyterian 
churches  a  special  sense  of  responsibility  for 
the  spiritual  welfare  of  their  people.  In  1843 
there  is  a  note  of  a  day  appointed  in  the  First 
Church  for  "  private  fasting  and  prayer "; 
and  of  having,  for  a  season,  "  daily  prayer 
meetings  each  morning  and  preaching  every 
evening  by  Mr.  Edwards."  In  that  year 
also  each  church  was  required  to  send  to  Pres- 
bytery, for  its  files  and  scrutiny,  a  copy  of 
its  Articles  of  Faith  and  Covenant;  and 
among  the  letters  preserved  by  the  First  Church 
Session  is  one  written  to  Mr.  Edwards  in  1843 
by  T.  B.  Hamilton.  Mr.  Hamilton  says 
X04 


First  Church  Chronicles 

that  in  conversation  with  some  members  of 
the  church,  he  has  regretfully  learned  that  his 
example  in  dancing  on  certain  occasions  has 
been  noted  "  as  justifying  them  in  the  same 
acts,  contrary  to  the  advice  of  their  friends." 
He  adds:  "Whatever  may  be  my  pecuHar 
views  on  the  subject  of  dancing,  I  had  deter- 
mined to  discontinue  it,  before  having  the 
conversation  above  alluded  to."  He  goes 
on  to  say: 

I  address  you  this  note  that  you  may  give  publicity 
to  my  determination  on  this  point,  if  you  think  fit;  and 
also  explain  another  circumstance  which  may  become 
public — I  mean  the  fact  of  my  going  from  Syracuse  to 
Albany  on  Sunday. 

I  left  Rochester  on  Friday  in  time  to  reach  Albany 
on  Saturday  evening.  I  deemed  it  necessary  for  me  to 
be  there  at  the  opening  of  the  court  on  Monday  morning. 
The  cars  were  obstructed  on  the  road  and  no  train  went 
down  on  Saturday.  After  considerable  hesitation,  I 
deemed  that  I  was  justified  in  going  on  Sunday. 

I  am  decidedly  opposed  to  travelling  on  Sunday  and 
this  is  the  only  instance  in  which  I  have  done  so,  and 
I  frankly  say  that  after  once  trying  it,  in  what  I  con- 
sidered an  urgent  case,  I  am  fully  convinced  that  the 
like  circumstances  would  not  induce  me  to  repeat  it. 
I  am 

Yours  affectionately, 

T.  B.  Hamilton. 

It  may  be  added  that  as  lately  as  the  pre- 
vious year  a   member,  who  had   traveled  on 
105 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Sunday  and  failed  to  express  repentance, 
had  been  excommunicated  by  the  Session. 
Hence  Mr.  Hamilton  had  cause  to  be  nervous. 

After  a  pastorate  only  one  year  shorter  than 
Dr.  Penney's  Tryon  Edwards  resigned.  His 
letter  is  dated  June  28,  1844.  Its  coming 
seems  to  have  been  quite  unexpected,  though 
he  says  that  the  step  had  been  long  in  con- 
templation owing  to  the  increasing  arduous- 
ness  of  his  labors.  The  church  unanimously 
adopted  a  resolution  begging  him  to  recon- 
sider the  action  and  to  "  remain  with  us  as 
our  pastor."  When  Mr.  Edwards  declined 
to  do  this,  the  church  passed  a  series  of  very 
complimentary  resolutions,  asked  his  aid  in 
choosing  a  successor,  and  handsomely  directed 
the  continuance  of  his  salary  for  three  months 
after  his  relief  from  the  performance  of  pas- 
toral duties,  which  was  on  July  28th. 

On  leaving  Rochester,  Mr.  Edwards  went  to 
New  London,  where  for  thirteen  years  he  was 
minister  to  a  large  Congregational  Church. 
Thence  he  went  to  Hagerstown,  Md.,  as  the 
pastor  of  a  church,  becoming  also,  while  there, 
president  of  the  Wilson  Female  Seminary, 
at  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  which  he  had  much  to  do 
in  founding. 


106 


First  Church  Chronicles 


XIV 

Choosing  a  New  Pastor 

That  the  First  Church  flock  needed  watch- 
ing, and  received  it,  during  the  vacancy  of 
the  pulpit,  is  indicated  by  a  "  Statement  as 
to  Betting,  read  to  the  Church  January  lo, 
1845." 

It  is  probably  known  to  most  of  the  members  of  this 
church  that  some  of  our  number,  previous  to  the  late 
presidential  election,  made  bets  on  the  result  of  that 
election.  Such  members  have  been  conversed  with, 
and  they  readily  see  and  admit  the  impropriety  of  their 
conduct  in  this  respect.  They  express  their  unqualified 
regret  and  sorrow  for  this  act  and  their  determination 
to  bet  no  more. 

And  the  Session  take  this  opportunity,  in  kindness, 
to  put  the  members  of  this  church  on  their  guard  against 
this  practice  which  some  professing  Christians  are  un- 
warily drawn  into.  All  will  readily  see,  that  if  this 
kind  of  gambling  is  permitted,  the  walls  of  partition 
which  should  separate  the  church  from  the  world  will 
soon  be  broken  down.  It  should  be  generally  known 
that  betting  is  considered  in  the  church  to  which  we 
belong  to  be  a  disciplinable  offence. 

In  less  than  a  year  after  Pastor  Edwards 
left,  the  church  extended  an  unanimous  call 
to  Rev.  Malcolm  N.  McLaren,  D.D.  He 
was  forty-six  years  of  age;  had  been  born  in 
Albany,  educated  at  Union  College  and  at 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  and  at  the 
107 


First  Church  Chronicles 

time  of  his  call  to  Rochester  was  located  in 
Johnstown,  where  he  had  a  church.  His 
letter  of  acceptance  says:  "Delighted  with 
my  intercourse  with  your  people  during  my 
short  stay  in  your  city,  and  affected  by  the 
unanimity  of  kindness  with  which  the  invita- 
tion was  made  out,  I  have,  since  it  was  placed 
in  my  hands,  been  more  and  more  inclined 
to  view  it  as  an  invitation  from  the  Lord  of 
the  Vineyard  that  it  is  his  will  that  Rochester 
become  the  place  of  my  labors. 

"  There  are  considerations  which  wd.  deter 
me  from  entering  upon  that  field.  Its  extent, 
its  high  cultivation,  and  its  commanding 
position  are  enough  to  intimidate  one  of  more 
talents  and  of  richer  furniture  and  of  more 
varied  experience  than  the  present  object  of 
their  choice  can  have  any  claims  to.  But 
this  movement  has  originated  so  entirely 
without  my  knowledge,  has  advanced  so  much 
without  any  agency  of  mine,  and  is  so  mani- 
festly from  the  Lord  that  I  dare  not  de- 
cHne."  The  letter  is  written  under  date  of 
May  26th,  and  he  says  that  he  will  come  to 
Rochester  in  three  weeks,  delaying  to  give 
the  people  in  Johnstown  time  to  arrange  for 
supplies. 

Dr.  McLaren's  installation  took  place  Aug. 
108 


First  Church  Chronicles 

27th.  The  sermon  was  by  Dr.  Sprague  of 
Albany,  the  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hickok, 
"  of  the  Washington  Street  Church,"  the  charge 
to  the  pastor  by  Mr.  Hall  of  the  Third  Church, 
and  the  charge  to  the  people  by  Rev.  James 
B.  Shaw,  of  the  Brick.  There  was  also  an 
elaborate  musical  program  by  the  choir. 

XV 

Dr.  McLaren 

One  who  knew  Dr.  McLaren  has  described 
him  as  having  a  tall,  erect  and  graceful  form, 
a  manner  especially  courteous,  as  "  endowed 
with  a  mind  well  disciplined  by  study,"  and 
as  "  having  few  equals  in  rhetoric  and  express- 
ive pulpit  dehvery.  For  all  these,  and  for 
goodness  of  heart  and  fideHty  as  preacher  and 
pastor,  he  will  long  be  remembered." 

In  spite  of  the  favorable  beginning  of  his 
ministry.  Dr.  McLaren  remained  in  the  First 
Church  only  a  year  and  a  half— until  March 
I,  1847.  He  resigned  to  accept  a  call  which 
he  had  received  to  Brooklyn.  He  lived  to  be 
an  old  man,  dying  in  Auburn  in  1887,  and  it 
is  perhaps  significant  of  his  Scotch-Presby- 
terianism  that  in  compliance  with  his  request 
copies  of  the  Bible  and  of  the  Westminster 
Confession  of  Faith  were  placed  upon  his 
109 


First  Church  Chronicles 

casket.  Another  significant  fact  is  the  inter- 
esting reminiscence  that  when  preaching  he 
always  wore  black  gloves — which  seemed, 
at  least  to  one  gentle  little  girl  among  his 
hearers,  to  give  to  his  gestures  an  awful  and 
threatening  power.  But  his  heart  was  very 
kind,  and  he  and  his  family  in  their  short 
residence  here  made  many  friends,  so  that  his 
return,  on  various  occasions,  was  always 
welcomed. 

Whether  due  or  not  to  the  strict  ideas  of 
Dr.  McLaren,  and  of  his  conservative  succes- 
sor, Dr.  Mcllvaine,  the  Session  records  of 
the  years  from  1845  to  1855  furnish  data  of 
many  trials  of  First  Church  members  by  a 
disciplinary  Session.  Absence  from  church 
on  Sunday,  or  absence  from  Prayer  Meeting 
and  Preparatory  Lecture,  were  offenses  that 
necessitated  formal  trial  by  the  Session.  At 
least  one  of  these  resulted  in  excommunica- 
tion, perhaps  because  the  offender  not  merely 
gave  no  sign  of  repentance  but  failed  to  obey 
the  citations  of  the  Session  to  appear  before 
it  and  hear  the  witnesses.  These,  testifying 
that  they  had  themselves  been  present  at  prac- 
tically every  service  for  several  months,  oc- 
cupying pews  so  situated  that  they  could  see 
his  seat  "  without  turning  around,"  swore 
no 


First  Church  Chronicles 

that  they  had  not  seen  him  there,  nor  even 
on  the  porch  or  in  the  yard.  Neither  had  he 
given  to  them  the  excuse  of  sickness.  The 
verdict  was  read  to  the  church  at  Preparatory 
Lecture. 

The  Session  was  not  always,  however,  so 
severe,  for  in  one  instance  the  minute  reads: 
"  It  was  voted  that  Mr.  H be  now  sus- 
pended from  the  Communion,  and  that  be- 
fore he  be  excommunicated  time  be  given 
him  to  repent  and  return  to  his  Christian 
duty.  Closed  with  prayer.  M.  Chapin, 
Clerk."  Other  offenses  than  absence  from 
service  came  before  the  Session,  and  it  is  clear 
that  to  be  an  Elder  in  those  days  meant  the 
devotion  of  much  time  to  the  affairs  of  the 
church,  and  the  hearing  of  much  spicy  gossip. 

Two  new  Elders  were  elected  in  1846,  Eben 
U.  Buell  and  Robert  W.  Dalzell;  and  one, 
Charles  W.  Dundas,  resigned.  It  was  not 
much  easier  to  resign  at  that  time  than  it  is 
to-day.  Only  two  other  resignations  from  the 
eldership  had  been  accepted  in  the  thirty 
years  of  the  church.  One  of  these  was  Jacob 
Gould's,  in  1833,  which  reads: 

Brethren: 

I,  by  these  presents,  desire  to  do  officially  what  I  have 
virtually  done  for  a  considerable  time,  viz.,  cease  to  be 
III 


First  Church  Chronicles 

an  Active  Elder  in  said  Church,  and  I  do  now  hereby, 
as  far  as  I  can,  resign  said  office.  By  granting  this 
request,  I  hope  and  Pray  that  the  Spirituality  and  Union 
of  the  Church  be  increased  and  the  Kingdom  of  Jesus 
Christ  extended. 

With  much  affection. 

Yours, 

Jacob  Gould 

XVI 

Interesting  Correspondence 

The  church  had  a  good  deal  of  trouble  in 
securing  a  successor  to  Dr.  McLaren,  the 
pulpit  remaining  vacant  for  a  year  and  a  half. 
Temporary  supplies  preached,  however,  dur- 
ing this  time;  especially  and  most  acceptably 
Rev.  Henry  D.  Rankin,  for  several  months. 
He  was  a  young  man,  and  after  leaving 
Rochester  went  to  China  as  a  missionary. 

A  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Adam  Reid,  of 
Salisbury,  Conn,,  and  one  to  the  Rev.  T.  V. 
Moore,  of  Green  Castle,  Pa.  The  latter  ac- 
cepted, but,  his  Presbytery  refusing  to  let 
him  leave  the  charge  he  had,  he  was  obliged 
to  decline.  The  correspondence  with  Mr. 
Moore  is,  however,  illuminating  on  several 
points.  In  referring  to  the  call,  he  wrote: 
"  I  cannot  consent  to  perform  more  than  two 
services   on   the   Sabbath.     More   than   this   I 

112 


First  Church  Chronicles 

am  convinced  is  not  possible  for  me,  in  justice 
either  to  myself  or  the  congn.  Should  a 
third  service  be  deemed  expedient  I  cannot 
bind  myself  even  to  be  present,  for  the  mental 
excitement  of  three  services  on  my  system 
would  be  such  as  ultimately  to  do  me  serious 
injury."  The  official  reply  to  this  declara- 
tion is  that,  "  although  our  usual  practice, 
with  that  of  other  churches  in  this  city,  has  been 
to  have  a  third  service  (being  usually  a  prayer 
meeting  conducted  by  the  Pastor,  with  a 
brief  extemporaneous  lecture  or  remarks)  yet 
our  own  observation  and  experience  had  led 
us  recently  to  the  conclusion  that  more  than 
two  services  generally  are  not  profitable  and 
should  not  be  required."  There  is  added, 
with  a  bit  of  spirit,  that  it  might  be  presumed 
that  the  Session  "  will  never  ask  anything 
incompatible  with  your  health  or  permanent 
usefulness."  The  correspondence  also  con- 
tains an  interesting  allusion  to  the  amount  of 
the  proposed  salary,  which  was  ^1500 — "  three 
hundred  dollars  more  than  has  ever  been 
paid  by  any  Presb.  Church  in  this  City, 
except  for  a  short  time  to  Mr.  Edwards,  dur- 
ing which  one-third  of  the  amount  was  paid 
by  individuals  and  not  by  the  Society."  The 
sum  of  $1500,  it  is  stated,  "we  think  will 
"3 


First  Church  Chronicles 

enable  our   Pastor,  with   proper  economy,   to 
lay  up  a  little  each  year." 

Another  letter,  interesting  for  the  possible 
light  it  throws  on  the  condition  of  the  church 
at  this  time,  is  one  which  is  addressed  to 
Judge  Sampson  by  the  Rev.  Joel  Parker. 
Mr.  Parker  is  replying  to  an  inquiry  regarding 
a  minister  of  Philadelphia,  whose  name  the 
Session  were  considering.     He  writes: 

Yours  of  the  3d  instant  came  to  hand  last  evening. 
I  can  but  deeply  regret  that  your  church  should  be 
left  again  to  the  troubles  and  hazards  of  procuring  a 
Pastor. 

The  gentleman  with  respect  to  whom  you  make  inquiry 
has  been  long  known  to  me.  He  was  under  my  tuition 
for  a  year  or  two  in  the  Sabbath  School  class  when  a 
lad  of  sixteen.  He  possesses  far  more  intellectual  power 
than  I  then  supposed  he  would  ever  attain  to.  .  .  . 
Your  most  cultivated  people  would  not  grow  weary  of 
his  discourses.  .  .  .  With  respect  to  the  manner  in 
which  he  would  encounter  a  factious  spirit  I  am  not 
so  confident. 

A  very  interesting  document  of  1847  is  a 
letter  addressed  to  the  Session  by  Levi  A. 
Ward,  who  had  then  been  Superintendent 
of  the  Sunday  School  for  eleven  years.  He 
says  that  when  he  took  charge,  he  found  that 
it  had  been  the  practice  to  collect  from  the 
teachers  enough  to  make  up  the  difference 
between  the  collections  and  the  expenses  of  the 

114 


First  Church  Chronicles 

school.  This  did  not  seem  to  him  to  be  right. 
Accordingly,  he  had  instituted  the  custom 
of  personally  advancing  such  sums  as  the  ex- 
penses called  for,  and  then  in  March  of  each 
year  having  a  church  collection  taken  up, 
from  which  he  reimbursed  himself  as  far  as 
possible  for  the  last  twelve  months'  advances. 
Once  in  four  or  five  years  he  prepared  a  bal- 
ance-statement for  the  congregation,  that  of 
1847  showing  that  the  collections  were  then 
short  ^70.52.  In  addition,  "  the  Tablets  (which 
cost  ^35)  and  the  Psalm  Books  were  paid  for 
by  myself  and  not  charged  to  the  School." 

XVII 

Dr.  Mcllvaine 

In  1848,  Rev.  Dr.  Joshua  Hawley  Mcllvaine, 
of  Westminster  Church,  Utica,  accepted  a 
call  to  the  pastorate.  He  commenced  his 
duties  April  23d,  and  was  installed  July  13th. 
Mr.  Hickok  of  the  Washington  Street  Church 
read  the  Scriptures;  Mr.  Richardson  of  Pitts- 
ford  preached  the  sermon.  Mr.  Shaw  of  the 
Brick  gave  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Mr. 
BilHngston  of  Fairport  the  charge  to  the  people. 

Dr.  Mcllvaine  was  a  graduate  of  Princeton 
college  and  seminary.  He  was  thirty-three 
when   he   came   to   Rochester,    but  had   been 

"5 


First  Church  Chronicles 

pastor  of  a  Presbyterian  church  at  Little 
Falls  prior  to  his  charge  in  Utica.  His  pas- 
torate of  twelve  years  in  Rochester  was  next 
to  the  longest  that  the  First  Church  has  had, 
and  during  it  the  church  was  very  strong  and 
active.  Dr.  Mcllvaine  is  described  as  having 
possessed  studious  habits,  thorough  scholar- 
ship, and  eminent  pulpit  power.  "  He  was 
a  peer  among  the  students,  authors  and 
preachers  of  his  day."  His  sermons  were 
extremely  intellectual. 

An  interesting  evidence  of  the  quickness 
with  which  Dr.  Mcllvaine  took  his  place 
in  the  community  is  the  choice  of  him  to 
deliver  on  June  28,  1849,  the  address  that 
celebrated  the  reorganization  of  the  Roches- 
ter Athenaeum  and  Mechanics'  Association, 
the  opening  of  their  Library  and  new  Reading 
Rooms,  and  the  completion  for  public  lec- 
tures of  that  "  noble  hall  " — now  the  Corin- 
thian Theatre.  The  subject  chosen  was  "  The 
Power  of  Voluntary  Attention  " — not  a  very 
alluring  title;  but  he  treated  it  in  so  satis- 
factory a  manner  that  next  day  the  directors, 
in  extending  a  vote  of  thanks  to  him,  appointed 
a  committee  to  "  sohcit  a  copy  of  the  Address 
for  publication."  The  copy  was  forthcom- 
ing and  the  address  in  pamphlet  form  may 
116 


First  Church  Chronicles 

still  be  occasionally  found.  The  chairman 
of  the  meeting  was  the  Superintendent  of  his 
Sunday  School,  Levi  A.  Ward. 

Dr.  Mcllvaine  had  come  to  Rochester  at  a 
time  of  considerable  excitement,  for  1848  was 
the  year  of  the  "  Rochester  Rappings."  Spir- 
ituaHsm  and  its  manifestations  so  entered  into 
the  thought  of  the  community  that  even  five 
years  later,  on  March  20,  1853,  he  preached 
a  sermon  on  "  the  arts  of  divination  "  which 
made,  as  will  be  imagined,  no  Httle  stir. 

XVIII 

Church  Life  in  the  Middle  of  the  Century 

With  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Mcllvaine  there 
was  entered  a  period  which  is  within  the 
memory  of  a  few  of  the  older  members  of 
the  present  church.  By  the  aid  of  their 
reminiscences,  it  is  quite  possible  to  picture 
the  life  of  the  church  as  it  was  in  the  middle 
of  the  nineteenth  century.  Services  were 
held  both  morning  and  afternoon,  and  most 
baptisms  were  in  the  afternoon.  The  sermon 
was  the  great  feature  of  any  service.  There 
were,  perhaps,  but  two  hymns,  and  in  announc- 
ing these  the  pastor  would  read  them  entirely 
through.  An  examination  of  the  old  hymn 
117 


First  Church  Chronicles 

book  reveals  hymns  that  were  so  melancholy 
that  two  may  well  have  been  all  that  healthy 
individuals  could  bear  at  a  service.  One 
hymn,  which  was  sung  so  often  in  the  First 
Church  that  its  words  are  perfectly  recalled 
by  a  member  of  that  period,  began  as  follows : 

Far  from  the  utmost  verge  of  day 

Those  gloomy  regions  lie. 
Where  flames  amid  the  darkness  play, 

The  worm  shall  never  die. 

The  breath  of  God,  his  angry  breath, 

Supplies  and  fans  the  fire. 
There  sinners  taste  the  second  death 

And  would,  but  can't,  expire. 

The  choir  included,  during  Dr.  Mcllvaine's 
pastorate,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  WilHam  H.  Perkins, 
Mrs.  Levi  A.  Ward,  Mrs.  John  C.  Nash,  Mrs. 
Judge  Gardiner,  Mr.  Bell,  and  Dr.  Backus, 
who  was  leader.  The  choir  sat  in  the  gallery 
at  the  rear  of  the  church.  A  new  organ  was 
installed  in  1848. 

Once  in  two  months  the  pastor  would  read 
the  notice,  "  The  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
Supper  will  be  served  in  this  house  two  weeks 
from  to-day.  The  Session  will  meet  to-morrow 
afternoon  at  2  o'clock  in  the  Session  Room  to 
receive  applications  for  membership."  This 
Session  Room  was  the  small  room,  back  of  the 

118 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Lecture  Room,  which  the  infant  class  used  on 
Sundays.  One  who  visited  the  room  as  a 
child,  on  a  Monday  afternoon  in  response 
to  the  above  announcement,  recalls  the  '*  grave 
and  venerable  "  Elders  sitting  in  solemn  con- 
clave as  "  we  poor,  miserable,  Httle  candi- 
dates "  entered.  Preparatory  Lecture  fol- 
lowed on  the  Friday  afternoon  preceding 
Communion,  and  the  entire  membership  of  the 
church  was  expected  to  attend — though  the 
hour  was  3  o'clock.  Baptisms  were  often  ad- 
ministered at  this  service,  and  here  were 
pronounced  the  sentences  imposed  by  Session 
as  a  result  of  the  trials  it  held.  Here  also  were 
read  the  confessions  of  those  who,  having 
been  brought  to  trial,  repented. 

At  Communion  the  verses  always  read,  and 
never  explained  to  the  trembhng  children  who 
were  only  too  conscious  of  unworthiness, 
were  from  the  Eleventh  Chapter  of  First 
Corinthians,  as,  "  For  he  that  eateth  and 
drinketh  unworthily,  eateth  and  drinketh 
damnation  to  himself."  These,  and  the  others 
of  similar  purport,  were  recited  in  most  solemn 
tones;  and  then  came  the  mournful  hymn, 
beginning, 

'Twas  on  that  dark  and  doleful  night 

When  powers  of  earth  and  hell  engaged, 
119 


First  Church  Chronicles 

sung  in  a  minor  key,  the  choir  sitting  with  the 
congregation  at  this  service.  "  It  was  all 
very  sad." 

One  member  of  the  church,  S.  Y.  Ailing, 
whose  long  years  of  faithful  loyalty  extended 
through  this  period,  attained  the  record  of 
not  having  missed  a  Communion  service  for 
fifty-two  years. 

Yet  there  were  bright  spots  in  the  church 
life  of  the  day.  Those  who  arrived  at  service 
early  had  the  pleasure  of  watching  the  others 
come  in,  facing  the  congregation,  and  all 
accounts  agree  that  this  was  most  entertain- 
ing. Individuality  was  strongly  marked  in 
those  days,  and  there  were  princes  among 
the  men  and  queens  among  the  women.  And 
then  there  was  the  interest  of  watching  stran- 
gers and  visitors.  On  an  April  Sunday  in  1847, 
ex-President  Tyler  was  among  the  latter;  but 
it  is  doubtful  whether  he  attracted  as  much 
attention  as  had  the  picturesque  Van  Buren, 
back  in  the  summer  of  1828,  when  he  had  come 
into  the  church  with  General  Gould.  Van 
Buren  had  been  nominated  for  governor  that 
summer  and  in  a  tour  of  the  State  had  reached 
Rochester  on  a  Saturday.  On  Sunday,  writes 
Henry  B.  Stanton  in  "  Random  Recollections,' 
"  he  attended  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
120 


■ft?"W-' 


'"^Jiin 


g". 


•^-     °'i     K  ■■" 


SEATING  ARRANGEMENT,   1848 


First  Church  Chronicles 

the  wealthy  and  aristocratic  church  of  the 
town.  .  .  .  All  eyes  were  fixed  upon  him 
...  an  exquisite  in  personal  appearance.  He 
wore  an  elegant  snufF-colored  broadcloth  coat 
with  velvet  collar,  his  cravat  was  orange 
with  modest  lace  tips;  his  vest  was  of  a  pearl 
hue;  his  trousers  were  white  duck,  his  silk 
hose  corresponded  to  the  vest;  his  shoes 
were  morocco;  his  nicely  fitting  gloves  were 
yellow  kid;  his  long-furred  beaver  hat,  with 
broad  brim,  was  of  Quaker  color." 

It  was  the  custom  in  the  old  days  for  the 
sexton,  after  he  had  finished  ringing  the  bell, 
to  enter  the  auditorium  and  show  visitors  to 
seats.  "  Some  pew-renters,"  said  Dr.  Miller 
in  his  historical  paper,  "  complained  to  the 
trustees  that  their  places  were  occupied  by 
outsiders,  to  their  inconvenience  and  dis- 
comfort. The  board  discussed  the  question 
and  decided  that  the  stranger  within  our 
gates  must  be  treated  respectfully  and  kindly. 
They  directed  the  sexton  to  give  visitors  as 
good  seats  as  there  were  in  the  house."  Very 
shortly  after,  to  emphasize  the  hospitality 
of  the  church,  prominent  members  of  the  con- 
gregation acted  themselves  as  ushers,  and  so, 
prior  to  1850,  made,  in  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  a  "  beginning  in  Rochester  of  that 
121 


First  Church  Chronicles 

special  hospitality  which  is  now  so  marked   a 
feature  in  all  our  churches." 

On  Mondays,  once  a  month,  it  had  been 
the  custom  to  hold  a  union  Monthly  Con- 
cert, sometimes  in  one  church  and  some- 
times in  another.  Wednesday  evening  was 
devoted  to  the  regular  church  prayer  meeting, 
at  which,  however,  there  was  a  sermon.  On 
Saturday  nights  there  was  another  prayer 
meeting.  This  was  transferred  during  Dr. 
Mcllvaine's  ministry  from  the  Lecture  Room 
to  private  houses,  where  it  was  conducted  by 
one  of  the  Elders.  The  minister  was  usually 
present,  but  did  not  necessarily  take  part. 
It  is  recalled  that  one  member  of  the  Session, 
who  had  a  strong  bass  voice  but  absolute  in- 
abihty  to  carry  a  tune,  sometimes  led  the  sing- 
ing, and  in  so  doing  would  sing  as  much  as  four 
Hnes  before  his  auditors  could  identify  the 
tune.  These  Saturday  evening  meetings  have 
been  described  as  "  very  earnest  and  delightful." 
There  was  also,  once  a  month,  a  women's  prayer 
meeting,  held  at  the  house  of  Mrs.  Hervey  Ely; 
and  very  early  there  was  started,  by  Elder  Starr, 
a  men's  Bible  Class,  conducted  Sunday  mornings 
at  9  o'clock  in  the  Lecture  Room.  This  was 
the  beginning  of  the  men's  classes  in  which  to 
this  day  Rochester  is  said  to  be  the  leader. 

122 


First  Church  Chronicles 

At  the  Sunday  services  it  was  customary 
to  appeal  for  contributions  for  various  objects, 
the  American  Tract  Society  and  the  educa- 
tion of  designated  young  men  for  the  ministry 
being  the  special  favorites.  The  amount  se- 
cured in  response  to  these  appeals  was  often 
amazing,  as  the  following  records  show:  On 
an  Autumn  Sunday  in  1848,  Dr.  Mcllvaine 
having  appealed  for  foreign  missions,  a  col- 
lection of  ^700  was  taken  up;  on  a  January 
Sunday  of  that  year,  an  appeal  for  the  Tract 
Society  resulted  in  a  collection  of  ^1195.50. 
On  December  10,  1849,  in  response  to  an  appeal 
(which  for  some  years  was  an  annual  event) 
the  congregation  gave  ^300  for  the  Rochester 
Orphan  Asylum;  two  months  later,  ^933.46 
for  American  Home  Missions,  and  just  four 
weeks  after  that  $631  for  the  Foreign  Evan- 
gehcal  Society!  Nor  was  the  giving  only  in 
the  winter.  On  June  3d  of  that  same  year, 
^59.65  was  taken  up  for  city  missions;  two 
Sundays  later,  ^207.13  for  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation; one  month  after  that,  $1251.29  for 
the  American  Bible  Society;  and  five  weeks 
later,  Aug.  19,  $127.50  for  the  American 
Sunday  School  Union.  Whatever  rise  there 
has  been  in  our  standards  of  luxury  and  of 
personal  income  and  expenditure  in  the  inter- 
123 


First  Church  Chronicles 

vening  years,  the  congregations  of  sixty  and 
seventy  years  ago  certainly  set  a  pace  in  their 
contributions  for  benevolent  purposes.  The 
total  in  1851  and  again  in  1852  considerably 
exceeded  $8000  for  benevolent  purposes  alone. 
The  "  church  sociables,"  or  suppers,  held 
at  this  time  in  private  houses  with  great 
frequency,  were  also  an  important  feature  in 
the  church  life.  The  viands  were  at  least 
as  famously  good  in  those  days,  it  appears, 
as  they  are  now.  They  were  paid  for  by  the 
passing  of  a  hat  or  plate,  into  which  it  was 
customary  for  each  person  to  put  a  quarter. 
These  cottage  "  sociables  "  continued  with 
great  success  until  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Robin- 
son. At  his  request  they  were  then  transferred 
to  the  church  parlors. 

XIX 

Some  Events  of  Dr.  Mclhaine's  Pastorate 

In  1849  the  church  elected  three  new  Elders, 
Edmund  A.  Armstrong,  Charles  Church  and 
Thomas  Kempshall.  In  1850  it  joined  with 
other  churches  of  the  Presbytery  in  a  fruit- 
less appeal  to  the  two  General  Assemblies 
to  find  a  basis  of  harmony  and  union.  In 
this  movement  there  is  reason  to  believe  that 
124 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Dr.  Mcllvaine  was  very  prominent,  for  he 
was  a  most  loyal  Presbyterian  to  whom  the 
rupture  was  a  cause  of  real  sorrow.  Four 
years  later,  when  the  Rochester  Presbytery, 
by  a  narrow  majority,  voted  to  join  the  New 
School  branch,  the  First  Church,  under  his 
leadership,  withdrew  from  the  Rochester  Pres- 
bytery to  join  the  Rochester  City  Presbytery. 
The  church  held  two  meetings  before  deciding 
on  its  action,  and  very  lively  meetings  they 
seem  to  have  been — though  the  final  vote  was 
not  close,  the  ballots  being  46  for  "  Old  School  " 
and  8  for  New.  The  men  alone  voted,  as  was 
customary;  but  in  the  words  of  the  Session 
record,  "  the  female  members  of  the  church  " 
were  permitted  to  be  present,  because  of  their 
interest. 

In  1852,  the  Mother  First  gave  birth  to  her 
fifth  child,  St.  Peter's.  One  of  the  most 
prominent  members  of  the  church,  Levi  A. 
Ward,  commenced  early  in  that  year  the  con- 
struction of  a  new  Presbyterian  church  build- 
ing on  Grove  Street,  opposite  his  own  resi- 
dence. While  it  must  have  been  hard  for  the 
church  to  dismiss  a  family  long  so  prominent 
in  its  activities,  Mr.  Ward  had  the  cordial 
co-operation  of  his  pastor,  and  it  is  even  said 
that    Dr.    Mcllvaine    himself    suggested    the 

I2S 


First  Church  Chronicles 

name  of  the  new  church.  The  story,  as  he 
used  to  tell  it,  was  that  Mr.  Ward,  having  com- 
plained that  he  could  think  of  no  name  which 
would  be  distinctive  among  Presbyterian 
churches,  Dr.  Mcllvaine  "  suggested  that  he 
take  the  bull  by  the  horns,  and  call  it  St. 
Peter's!  "  The  suggestion  so  pleased  the  donor 
that  he  adopted  it.  In  the  Sunday  School, 
as  further  evidence  of  the  kindly  feeling,  a 
collection  was  taken  up  late  that  year  for  *'  the 
purchase  of  a  Bible  and  hymn  book  for  the 
church  at  the  grove — St.  Peter's."  In  Octo- 
ber, 1853,  when  St.  Peter's  Church  was  dedi- 
cated, Dr.  Mcllvaine  preached  the  sermon. 
With  Mr.  Ward's  departure,  the  Superintend- 
ency  of  the  Sunday  School  was  transferred  to 
John  N.  Pomeroy.  This  whole  period  was 
marked  by  strong  religious  feehng. 

In  1855  the  sixth  branching  path  was 
started  from  the  mother  trail,  a  goodly  com- 
pany of  the  First  Church  members  leaving  the 
old  church  to  establish  Plymouth  Congrega- 
tional. Only  a  block  distant,  and  using  the 
forms  and  order  of  government  endeared  by 
New  England  associations,  it  drew  much 
strength  from  the  First.  Yet  the  Hfe  of  that 
people  went  placidly  on,  and  the  pastor  was 
not  discouraged.  Three  new  Elders  were 
126 


First  Church  Chronicles 

elected:  John  W.  Adams,  George  Dutton 
and  James  S.  Tryon,  and  in  1857  William  Burke 
and  J.  G.  Dabney  were  chosen  deacons — the 
first  ordination  to  that  office  in  thirty-five 
years.  Frederick  Starr,  an  Elder  for  twenty- 
seven  years,  resigned  in  1855,  and  Ashley 
Sampson,  long  prominent  in  the  church,  died 
in  1857,  Other  important  losses  to  the  Church 
by  death  at  this  period  were  those  of  Everard 
Peck,  in  1854,  ^^d  of  Charles  M.  Lee  in  1856. 

There  were  several  church  events  of  interest 
during  1855-60.  On  July  14,  1855,  the 
Session  voted  that  beginning  the  following 
day  the  hour  of  Sunday  afternoon  service 
should  **  be  changed  to  3I  p.m.,  in  compHance 
with  request  from  St.  Luke's  Ch."  The 
change  was  temporary,  the  church  going  back 
to  its  old  hour  in  September;  but  it  certainly 
was  an  evidence  of  Christian  concord.  On 
September  19th,  it  was  voted,  "  That  Session 
present  to  the  Sabbath  School  the  New  Eng- 
land Primer,  as  from  them."  And  on  Oct. 
7th,  there  was  held  in  the  Mother  Church  a 
union  Communion  service  of  all  the  Presby- 
terian Churches  of  the  town.  Represen- 
tatives from  each  of  the  several  Sessions 
served  the  bread  and  wine,  the  other  members 
of  the  united  Sessions  occupying  the  big 
127 


First  Church  Chronicles 

square  pews  at  either  side  of  the  pulpit.  All 
the  pastors  addressed  the  people,  and  Dr. 
Mcllvaine  made  a  moving  concluding  prayer. 
The  occasion  is  recorded  as  one  of  "  solemn 
interest."  In  the  following  year,  the  Pres- 
byterian churches  held  a  series  of  union  prayer 
meetings. 

Mr.  Finney  returned  to  Rochester  at  this 
time  to  hold  revivals  in  some  of  the  churches, 
and  very  early  in  1856  the  question  came  up 
of  inviting  him  to  speak  also  in  the  First. 
The  Session  debated  the  matter  at  several 
meetings,  and  finally,  under  the  leadership 
of  its  conservative  pastor,  decided  to  present 
no  invitation.  This  was  a  step  requiring 
courage,  considering  the  revivalist's  earlier 
success  in  the  First,  and  a  long  statement  on 
the  subject  was  read  from  the  pulpit.  It 
placed  the  church  squarely  on  record  as 
questioning  the  relative  permanency  of  the 
results  of  a  revival. 

On  the  recommendation  of  a  young  men's 
committee,  which  was  appointed  to  investi- 
gate the  matter,  the  Session  authorized  re- 
quests for  subscriptions  to  the  amount  of 
$1000,  for  the  redecoration  of  the  Lecture 
Room  and  to  purchase  new  seats  and  carpet 
for  it.  Special  collections  were  taken  up, 
128 


First  Church  Chronicles 

also,  during  these  years,  for  a  church  library. 
In  this  year  John  W.  Adams  was  elected 
Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School,  to 
succeed  Mr.  Pomeroy,  and  on  Dec.  29,  1856, 
a  meeting  of  the  church  was  held  "  with  a 
view  to  the  furtherance  of  Christian  cor- 
diality and  acquaintance  among  the  members." 
The  record  says  that  "  free  and  animated  con- 
versation "  characterized  the  gathering,  "  which 
was  at  length  (!)  suspended  by  adjourn- 
ment to  Monday  evening,  Jan.  5th." 

But  lest  this  seem  too  gay  a  function  for  the 
staid  members  of  the  old  First  Church,  let  it 
be  hastily  added  that  less  than  a  month  later 
the  Session  appointed  a  committee  "  to  visit 
,  .  ,  and  his  wife,  to  admonish  them  for  hav- 
ing given  a  dancing  party  in  their  house." 
The  committee  having  objected  "  that  the 
more  effectual  way  to  deal  with  the  evil  of  gay 
and  worldly  amusements  was  that  of  informal 
and  private  admonition,"  the  Session  later 
asked  the  pastor  to  attend  to  it.  This  he 
did,  reporting  that  after  conversation  with 
the  frivolous  brother  and  sister,  he  had  "  found 
many  palliating  circumstances,  and  obtained 
a  promise  from  them  that  no  such  thing  should 
occur  in  future."  He  added  that  he  had 
secured  "  a  similar  promise  from  other  church 
129 


First  Church  Chronicles 

members,"  and  recommended  "  that  the  Elders 
of  the  church  should  unite  in  visiting  all 
persons  in  the  church,  who  had  been  led 
into  this  and  other  worldly  amusements,  for 
private  admonition.  All  united,  and  each 
agreed  to  see  some  person  for  this  purpose." 

Visiting  the  congregation  was  no  novel 
experience  for  the  Elders  of  those  days.  The 
city  was  divided  by  them  into  districts,  and  each 
district  was  apportioned  to  two  or  more  Elders, 
who  made  it  a  point  to  visit  and  pray  with  each 
family  of  the  congregation  living  within  it. 
This  occurred  at  designated  times,  notice  hav- 
ing been  given  from  the  pulpit  that  "  visita- 
tions "  were  imminent.  The  Elders  assigned 
to  a  district  made  their  rounds  together. 

During  this  period,  also,  numerous  citations 
were  issued,  requiring  members  to  appear 
before  Session  for  absence  from  church;  and 
yet  the  conscientious  pastor  and  Elders  pre- 
pared a  long  paper  which  the  pastor  read  to  the 
*'  Dear  Brethren  and  Sisters  "  at  Preparatory 
Lecture,  June  5,  1857,  "  confessing "  lack 
of  faithfulness  in  keeping  the  church  members 
within  the  straight  and  narrow  path,  and 
promising  increasing  vigilance  in  the  future — 
a  pledge  which  they  kept!  A  number  of  fast 
days  are  noted,  also,  in  the  records  of  this  time. 
130 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Another  interesting  action  of  1857  was  the 
employment  of  "  a  lay  helper,"  whose  task 
it  should  be  "  to  attend  to  the  renting  of  pews 
and  seats,  to  the  collection  of  rents  and  other 
such  business."  John  W.  Adams  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  office  and  was  voted  a  salary 
of  ^800,  to  be  taken  out  of  such  part  of  the 
church  collections  as  was  not  otherwise  appro- 
priated. The  following  year  there  is  note 
that  the  pastor  presented  a  check  for  $3 55.77 
from  the  treasurer  of  the  Ladies'  Benevolent 
Society  of  the  church,  "  as  a  donation  to  the 
Session,  desiring  that  it  might  be  apphed 
toward  the  payment  of  our  church  agent  and 
missionary,  John  W.  Adams."  This  is  the 
first  mention  of  the  Ladies'  Society,  and  it  is 
one  that  to  this  day  would  be  characteristic. 
The  amount  which  the  Society  gave  was  sub- 
sequently increased. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  church  col- 
lections for  the  Orphan  Asylum.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1857,  the  Session  appointed  a  committee 
to  confer  with  the  managers  and  tell  them 
that  if  the  children  did  not  return  to  attend- 
ance at  the  church  the  institution  would 
certainly  suffer  in  the  collections.  Another 
illuminating  resolution,  adopted  a  few  months 
later,  reads: 

131 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Whereas,  there  is  some  disagreement  in  the  church 
choir,   which    bears   unfavorably   on   our   church    music; 

Resolved,  That  it  be  the  sense  of  the  Session  that 
each  member  of  the  choir  should  conform  to  the  expressed 
wishes  of  a  majority  as  to  what  seat  he  or  other  mem- 
bers of  the  choir  shall  occupy. 

A  joint  meeting  of  the  Session  and  Trustees, 
called  in  August,  1858,  passed  a  resolution 
expressing  deep  sympathy  with  the  members 
of  the  Third  Presbyterian,  in  the  loss  of  their 
sanctuary  by  fire,  inviting  them  to  join  with 
the  First  "  as  long  as  their  destitution  contin- 
ues." In  the  following  year  the  First  Church 
had  to  do  some  building  of  its  own.  The  city 
decided  to  widen  Irving  Place,  and  that  meant 
that  the  little  brick  chapel— or  "  Lecture 
Room," — which  directly  abutted  on  the  street, 
must  come  down.  The  city  paid  ^1000  for 
the  strip,  and  a  new  stone  Lecture,  or  Ses- 
sion and  Sunday  School,  Room  was  then  built 
west  of  the  church,  on  the  Fitzhugh  Street 
side.  It  was  dedicated  in  1863,  Dr.  Pease, 
the  pastor  in  that  year,  officiating. 

XX 

An  Important   Year 

Four  important  events   marked    i860.     The 
opening  of  this  new  Lecture  Room,  the  death 
of    Dr.     Penney — of    which     there    has    been 
132 


First  Church  Chronicles 

already  mention — the  meeting  of  the  Old 
School  General  Assembly  in  the  First  Church, 
and  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Mcllvaine. 

The  Assembly  convened  in  the  First  Church 
on  May  17th,  Rev.  Dr.  Scott  of  CaHfornia 
preaching  the  sermon.  As  it  was  a  time 
when  moral  feeHngs  ran  high  on  the  questions 
underlying  the  civil  war,  there  was  never 
perhaps  an  Assembly  looked  forward  to  with 
livelier  interest  or  greater  anticipation  of 
forensic  struggle.  The  very  seriousness  of 
the  crisis  resulted  in  the  election  of  exception- 
ally able  and  conservative  delegates,  and  on 
the  thirtieth  the  Assembly  dissolved  after  a 
session  of  undisturbed  harmony. 

Dr.  Mcllvaine  resigned  to  become  Professor 
of  Belles  Lettres  at  his  ahna  mater,  Princeton. 
His  farewell  sermon  was  preached  on  August 
26th,  and  it  is  easy  to  believe  that  the  church 
was  very  reluctant  to  let  him  go.  Like  the 
preceding  pastors  of  the  First  Church  he  had 
been  a  leader  in  the  community.  The  fact 
that  he  was  one  of  the  originators  of  the 
Pundit  Club,  though  at  the  time  this  must 
have  seemed  a  relatively  unimportant  incident 
of  his  career,  will  well  indicate  to  the  present 
generation  the  place  he  had  taken  in  the  com- 
munity. 


First  Church  Chronicles 

After  leaving  Rochester,  Dr.  McIIvaine 
often  returned  on  visits  to  the  city  of  his 
many  friends,  and  his  farewell  sermon  as  a 
pastor  was  by  no  means  the  last  which  he 
preached  from  the  First  Church  pulpit.  He 
remained  at  Princeton  for  ten  years,  was  then 
pastor  for  seventeen  years  of  the  High  Street 
Church  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  then  returned 
to  Princeton  as  President  of  the  Evelyn  Female 
College — the  third  of  the  First  Church  pas- 
tors to  become  a  college  president.  He  died 
January  4,  1897. 

XXI 

Dr.  Pease  and  His  Death 

During  the  months  before  a  new  pastor  came 
to  the  First  Church  the  pulpit  was  often  sup- 
plied by  Rev.  E.  G.  Robinson  of  the  Rochester 
Theological  Seminary,  and  by  the  Rev.  James 
Nichols.  One  call  was  extended  and  declined. 
Then  the  church,  perhaps  observing  that  it 
had  been  a  trainer  of  college  presidents,  pro- 
ceeded to  elect  one  to  its  pastorate  by  pre- 
senting a  call  to  Rev.  Calvin  Pease,  D.D., 
who  was  President  of  Vermont  University 
at  Burlington. 

Dr.  Pease  was  born  in  Canaan,  Conn.,  Aug. 
12,  1813.  His  parents  moving  to  Vermont 
134 


First  Church  Chronicles 

when  he  was  thirteen,  he  attended  the  State 
university  and  soon  after  graduation  became 
Professor  of  Greek  and  Latin  there.  After 
thirteen  years  as  professor,  he  accepted  the 
Presidency.  He  had  been  President  of  the 
University  for  five  years  when  called  to  the 
First  Church.  It  has  been  written  of  him 
that  he  "  was  remarkable  for  the  just  balance 
and  harmonious  development  of  his  faculties 
and  the  symmetry  of  his  character.  He  com- 
bined social  and  domestic  accompHshments, 
but  it  was  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  he 
preferred  to  be  judged  and  estimated.  There 
was  a  blending  of  modesty  and  authority 
in  his  presence  at  the  Sacred  desk;  his  voice, 
usually  low  like  distant  music,  was  occasion- 
ally loud,  like  a  rising  storm,  against  Sin  which 
his  Soul  hated." 

The  labors  of  Dr.  Pease  in  the  First  Church 
were  begun  on  January  12,  1862,  but  he  was 
not  installed  until  the  afternoon  of  May 
13th.  The  program  of  the  installation  in- 
cluded an  introductory  prayer  and  Scripture 
reading  by  Mr.  Nichols,  who  was  then  Modera- 
tor of  Presbytery;  a  sermon  by  Dr.  Mcllvaine, 
who  had  come  back  to  Rochester  for  the  occa- 
sion; a  charge  to  the  pastor  by  Dr.  McLaren, 
who  had   been   pastor   before    Dr.   Mcllvaine; 

13s 


First  Church  Chronicles 

and  a  charge  to  the  people  by  the  Rev.  J.  T. 
Coit,  of  St.  Peter's. 

In  April  of  1862,  the  Emancipation  Pro- 
clamation of  President  Lincoln  was  read  from 
the  pulpit,  and  made  the  theme  of  a  sermon. 
In  that  year  O.  M.  Benedict  was  elected  Super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday  School,  to  succeed 
John  W.  Adams;  and  in  January  of  the  follow- 
ing year  two  new  Elders  were  elected,  Oliver 
M.  Benedict  and  Seth  H.  Terry. 

In  the  summer  of  1863,  weary  and  worn  in 
the  Master's  service.  Dr.  Pease  went  for  a 
rest  to  his  family  home  in  Vermont.  Strength 
did  not  return  to  him,  as  his  friends  had  hoped 
it  would,  and  on  September  17th  he  died. 

High  tribute  was  paid  to  his  memory  by  the 
clergy  of  the  city.  Dr.  Shaw  presided  at  a 
meeting  in  the  Athenaeum  Building  to  voice 
the  clergy's  and  the  city's  loss.  Here  reso- 
lutions were  adopted  expressive  of  deep  grief 
and  high  appreciation.  In  Vermont  it  was 
said  that  that  State  had  "  lost  her  ablest  man." 

The  funeral  was  held  in  Burlington,  where 
Dr.  Pease  had  died,  and  three  Elders  from  the 
Rochester  church,  Messrs.  Benedict,  Adams 
and  Buell,  together  with  Judge  Gardiner, 
were  among  the  pall  bearers. 

In  Rochester  on  the  Sunday  evening  follow- 
136 


First  Church  Chronicles 

ing,  Rev.  G.  L.  Boardman  of  the  Second  Baptist 
Church  pronounced  an  eulogy  upon  him,  re- 
ferring in  the  course  of  his  remarks  to  a  char- 
acteristic that  has  been  always  marked  in  the 
religious  life  of  the  city.  He  said,  "  I  gladly 
seize  the  occasion  to  say  publicly,  that  the 
ministers  of  Rochester  glory  in  unity.  Ours 
is  a  goodly  fellowship.  God  grant  that  it 
may  ever  continue,  as  it  ever  hath  been,  an 
unbroken  brotherhood  in  peace  and  love." 

In  commemoration  services,  held  at  First 
Church  on  September  27th,  Rev.  Dr.  Shaw 
took  as  his  text,  "  Mark  the  perfect  man, 
and  behold  the  upright;  "  and  Professor  Cut- 
ting, also  speaking,  said:  *' You  know  with 
what  total  unreserve  he  gave  himself  to  your 
service;  with  what  solicitude  he  watched 
every  interest  of  your  parish;  how  he  cher- 
ished the  Sunday  School  and  the  cause  of 
missions;  how  he  looked  after  the  sick,  the 
suffering,  and  the  afflicted;  how  he  composed 
differences,  and  promoted  unity  and  peace; 
how  he  was  the  joy  of  your  homes,  and  the 
light  of  your  public  assembhes;  how  gentle 
and  loving  he  was." 

In  a  privately  printed  memorial  of  Dr. 
Pease  it  is  said  of  his  brief  pastorate  in  Roch- 
ester that  it  "  comprehended  the  happiest  and 
137 


First  Church  Chronicles 

most  interesting  period  of  his  life.  Within 
these  few  short  months  he  did  his  greatest 
and  best  work,  for  which  all  his  previous  life, 
labor  and  experience  were  but  the  prepara- 
tion, and  it  their  fitting  crown  and  reward." 
And  Dr.  W.  G.  T.  Shedd,  of  Union  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  delivering  a  memorial  address 
at  the  University  of  Vermont  (Commence- 
ment Day,  Aug.  2,  1864),  said  of  the  relation 
between  Dr.  Pease  and  the  First  Church:  "  It  is 
rare  in  the  history  of  clergymen  and  congre- 
gations that  such  a  tender  and  affectionate 
feeling  springs  up  between  pastor  and  people 
as  that  which  existed  in  this  instance.  .  .  , 
The  tie  seemed  to  have  all  the  strength  of 
a  long-continued  pastorate." 

XXII 

Dr.  Beadle 

From  the  death  of  Dr.  Pease,  in  September, 
1863,  until  the  following  May,  the  First 
Church  pulpit  was  again  filled  acceptably 
by  Dr.  Robinson,  of  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary. At  a  meeting  of  the  church  on  October 
3d,  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  Dr.  Elias  R. 
Beadle,  of  New  Hartford,  Conn.,  to  become 
pastor.  Dr.  Beadle  accepted  the  call,  was 
received  by  Presbytery,  and  entering  upon 
138 


First  Church  Chronicles 

his  duties  as  pastor-elect,  served  the  church 
from  November  6,  1864,  to  July  19,  1865. 

In  March,  '65,  he  was  obhged  to  go  South 
by  reason  of  ill  health  and  in  April  of  the  same 
year  he  presented  his  resignation,  having  been 
advised  by  his  physicians  that  he  would  be 
unable  to  endure  the  winters  of  the  North. 
The  church,  having  no  alternative,  sadly 
accepted  the  resignation.  That  the  disap- 
pointment was  genuine  is  indicated  in  many 
ways.  At  the  time  of  Dr.  Beadle's  arrival 
the  records  note,  "  The  church  and  congre- 
gation are  very  much  pleased  with  our  new 
pastor,  as  regards  his  discourses  in  the  pulpit 
and  as  regards  himself  socially.  We  hope 
to  co-operate  with  him  in  every  good  work." 
Dr.  Beadle's  earnestness  of  purpose  is  evidenced 
by  the  announcement  in  his  first  sermon 
that  he  had  come  to  preach  Christ;  that 
he  should  aim  at  no  flights  of  rhetoric,  but 
would  labor  solely  for  the  salvation  of  souls. 
There  are  frequent  references  also  to  later 
visits  which  he  made  to  the  church,  where  he 
was  always  cordially  welcomed.  In  1866  he 
came  to  spend  his  summer  vacation  in  Roches- 
ter. It  is  said  of  him  at  that  time,  "  His 
face  is  gladly  welcomed  wherever  he  goes." 

It  was  during  Dr.  Beadle's  brief  presence 
139 


First  Church  Chronicles 

that  the  second  Sunday  service  was  changed 
from  afternoon  to  evening;  and  the  few  months 
of  his  incumbency  covered  a  period  in  which 
history  was  made,  March  19,  1865,  is  noted 
as  "  the  Sunday  of  the  flood.  The  church 
being  inaccessible,  surrounded  on  all  sides  by 
water,  no  services  were  held  either  in  church 
or  chapel."  Sunday,  April  i6th,  has  the 
record:  "A  feeHng  of  general  gloom  pervades 
the  city  on  account  of  the  demise  of  President 
Lincoln."  Within  the  church  circle  itself  a 
notable  death  of  that  year  was  that  of  Moses 
Chapin,  for  forty  years  an  Elder. 

XXIII 

Mr.  Wines 

After  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Beadle,  the 
pulpit  was  supplied  for  several  months  by, 
for  the  most  part,  members  of  the  faculties 
of  Auburn  Theological  Seminary  and  of  the 
University  of  Rochester,  It  was  the  period 
of  the  war  and  some  great  sermons  were 
preached.  It  is  remembered  that  on  one 
occasion,  when  Dr.  Robinson  was  preaching 
on  patriotism,  the  congregation  of  the  con- 
servative old  church  rose  in  their  places  and 
cheered  him! 

On  Dec.  18,  1865,  the  church  gave  a  call 
140 


First  Church  Chronicles 

to  Rev.  Casper  Maurice  Wines,  a  brilliant 
young  minister,  born  in  Philadelphia,  who, 
though  but  lately  graduated  from  Princeton 
Seminary,  had  had  pastoral  service  in  Jersey 
City  and  Newburgh.  He  was  installed  on 
the  March  226.  following.  The  sermon  was 
preached  by  his  father.  Rev,  E.  C.  Wines, 
D.D.,  of  New  York,  whose  name  is  widely 
known  in  connection  with  prison  reform. 
Dr.  Wines,  taking  as  his  text  the  words  (John 
XIII,  20),  "  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you, 
he  that  receiveth  whomsoever  I  send  re- 
ceiveth  me;  and  he  that  receiveth  me,  receiveth 
Him  that  sent  me,"  may  well  have  delivered, 
as  it  is  said  he  did,  an  impressive  discourse. 

Very  early  in  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Wines — 
in  fact,  some  days  before  his  formal  installa- 
tion, for  the  date  is  May  5,  1866 — the  Ses- 
sion "  Resolved,  that  the  first  Wednesday 
night  of  each  month  be  set  apart  for  monthly 
concert  of  prayer  for  missions."  So  began 
a  custom  which,  with  occasional  temporary 
changes  and  lapses,  has  been  since  observed 
for  almost  fifty  years.  On  May  20th  there 
was  entered  in  the  Sunday  School  records  a 
note  which  reads,  in  reference  apparently 
to  the  regular  Monday  evening  meeting,  rather 
than  to  the  foregoing: 

141 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Monthly  concert  of  prayer.  Very  slim  attendance 
on  account  of  weather.  Very  poor  speeches.  Very  stu- 
pid meeting. 

But  Mr.  Wines  took  hold  not  only  with  great 
earnestness,  but  with  the  energy  of  youth.  He 
preached  very  regularly  and  showed  a  par- 
ticular interest  in  the  Sunday  School.  One 
of  the  first  and  most  important  innovations 
due  to  him — though  it  had  first  to  be  long 
and  conscientiously  discussed  by  the  Session 
— was  the  substitution  of  "  Songs  of  the  Sanc- 
tuary "  for  the  sad  "  Psalms  and  Hymns  " 
that  had  been  sung  for  so  many  years  in  the 
church. 

On  October  14,  1866,  the  trustees  offered 
the  use  of  the  church  to  the  congregation  of 
St.  Luke's,  as  had  been  so  cordially  done  on 
other  occasions.  This  time  repairs  were  in 
progress  at  St.  Luke's.  The  offer  was  again 
accepted,  and  for  a  considerable  period  the 
Episcopal  service  was  read  in  the  First  Church 
on  Sunday  afternoons,  the  Presbyterians  wor- 
shipping in  the  evenings. 

These  evening  meetings  were  not  as  well 
attended  as  Mr.  Wines  thought  they  should 
be.  It  is  recorded  that  on  July  21,  1867, 
he  was  preaching  on  this  subject,  reading  an 
exhortation  promulgated  by  General  Assem- 
142 


First  Church  Chronicles 

bly  for  a  better  observance  of  the  Sabbath, 
when  there  broke  such  an  uproarious  thunder- 
storm that  "  the  sound  of  the  organ  could 
scarcely  be  distinguished  in  the  front  pews, 
and  the  minister's  voice  was  silenced."  A 
few  months  later,  on  Monday  afternoon, 
January  25,  1868,  another  excitement  occurred. 
This  was  during  a  Session  meeting  in  the  ad- 
jacent Lecture  Room.  "  A  loud  report  was 
heard,  proceeding  from  the  church.  Upon 
investigation,  it  was  found  that  a  large  section 
of  the  ceiHng  and  joists  supporting  it,  in  the 
audience  chamber  of  the  church,  had  fallen, 
crushing  many  seats  and  doing  great  damage." 
On  the  preceding  evening.  Dr.  Hall  of  the 
Third  Church  had  been  preaching  in  the 
auditorium,  and  it  became  an  oft-quoted 
witticism  of  the  day  to  say  that  the  Third 
Church  pastor  "  had  brought  down  the  house." 
In  a  physical  way,  these  untoward  occur- 
rences seem  to  typify  various  other  incidents 
which,  without  lessening  the  personal  regard 
between  pastor  and  people,  soon  convinced 
the  former  that  he  ought  to  resign,  and  per- 
suaded the  latter  to  accept  the  resignation. 
The  letter  of  resignation,  which  is  dated  June 
24,  1868,  only  two  years  after  his  installation, 
li  in  the  Session  files  and  is  a  manly,  straight- 
143 


First  Church  Chronicles 

forward  document,  Mr.  Wines  taking  to  him- 
self and  ascribing  to  his  youth  the  blame  for 
any  blunders  he  may  have  committed.  Pres- 
bytery dissolved  the  relationship  July  14, 
1868,  and  in  noting  his  departure  the  record 
relates  that  Mr.  Wines  "  as  a  talented  and 
social  gentleman  has  left  behind  him  a  host 
of  admiring  friends  who  will  ever  be  glad  to 
see  him  back."  He  went  from  Rochester  to 
a  church  in  Brookline,  Mass.,  and  later,  turn- 
ing Episcopalian,  had  a  church  in  Cleveland. 

XXIV 

Without  Pastor  and  Church 

After  Mr.  Wines  resigned,  the  pulpit  re- 
mained vacant  for  upwards  of  two  years.  It 
is  no  slight  evidence  of  the  loyalty  and  faith- 
fulness of  the  congregation  that,  with  con- 
siderable periods  of  pulpit  vacancy — three 
different  pastors  staying  only  a  few  months 
each  in  the  ten  years  from  i860  to  1870 — and 
with  several  other  discouragements,  they  held 
together  so  well.  This  doubtless  was  due  in 
part  to  the  excellence  of  the  pulpit  supplies. 

From  July  14,  1868,  until  December,  1870, 
these  included  Rev.  Charles  Parker  and  the 
Rev.  Jonathan  B.  Condit,  D.D.,  of  Auburn 
Theological      Seminary — chiefly      the      latter, 

144 


First  Church  Chronicles 

"  whose  ministrations,"  it  is  noted,  "  were 
greatly  to  the  edifying  of  the  church."  Sig- 
nificant notes  in  the  Record  book  read,  "  Dr. 
Condit  preached  an  excellent  sermon  to-day. 
Everybody  likes  him."  '*  Prayer  meeting  was 
as  usual  during  the  week,  being  crowded  at 
nine  every  morning." 

Other  striking  evidences  of  faithfulness  and 
loyalty  were  offered  in  these  days  in  the 
Sunday  School.  WilHam  B.  Burke,  made 
Secretary  in  1862,  served  with  great  devotion 
for  ten  years.  George  C.  Buell,  elected  Super- 
intendent in  1868,  to  succeed  O.  M.  Benedict, 
held  the  position  for  thirteen  years;  and 
steadily  during  that  long  period  made  it  his 
practice  to  devote  his  Saturday  evenings  to 
the  preparation  of  the  lesson.  Mrs.  Arink 
started  on  June  14,  1868,  her  Women's  Bible 
Class,  of  which  she  was  to  be  the  head  until 
her  death,  thirty-six  years  later,  in  1904. 
Under  the  dominance  of  her  strong  person- 
ality this  became  one  of  the  most  important 
features  of  the  church  life. 

Notwithstanding  a  loyalty  of  which  such 
statistics  give  only  the  crudest  outHne,  and 
putting  that  loyalty  to  the  test,  the  church 
had  to  contend  at  this  time,  it  has  been  said, 
with  various  discouragements  besides  the  lack 

145 


First  Church  Chronicles 

of  a  regular  pastor.  As  if  the  falling  of  the 
church  ceiling  in  1868  had  not  been  bad  enough, 
a  fire  later  in  the  same  year  destroyed  the  care- 
fully kept  records  of  the  Trustees,  these  being 
then  at  the  banking  house  of  the  Secretary, 
George  E.  Jennings.  Furthermore,  an  exam- 
ination of  the  church  edifice,  following  the 
accident  of  January,  had  resulted  in  the 
discovery  that  the  building  was  absolutely 
unsafe. 

Services  were  immediately  transferred  to 
the  Lecture  Room,  and  on  March  12th  a  meet- 
ing was  held,  at  which  the  ladies  provided 
refreshments,  for  the  renting  of  pews  in  the 
Lecture  Room  and  the  consideration  of  the 
course  of  action  to  be  followed.  A  committee 
was  appointed,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Hayden, 
Benedict,  Morgan,  Burke  and  Munger,  "  to 
procure  and  submit  to  the  Society  for  adop- 
tion, plans  and  estimates  for  a  new  church 
edifice,  and  to  execute  such  plans  as  shall 
be  adopted."  It  was  further  resolved  "  that 
an  effort  be  made  at  once  to  secure  by  sub- 
scription, as  a  free  donation  for  that  purpose, 
the  sum  of  ^30,000,  and  that  such  subscrip- 
tions be  obligatory  when  the  sum  of  $25,000 
is  subscribed;  and  that  Messrs.  G.  C.  Buell, 
Jennings,  Ross  Lewin,  Munger,  Walbridge, 
Z46 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Brown,  Hayden,  H.  Gould,  C.  B.  Hill  and 
C.  F.  Pond  be  appointed  a  Finance  Com- 
mittee to  procure  said  subscriptions  and  to 
supervise  the  expenditure  of  the  same." 

At  a  Sunday  service  a  few  days  later,  the 
following  notice  was  read  from  the  pulpit: 
"  It  is  well  known  by  this  Church  and  Society 
that  a  most  important  crisis  has  arrived  in  its 
history.  The  falling  of  the  ceiling  of  the 
church  edifice  necessitates  a  very  thorough 
renovation  and  repair,  or  the  erection  of  a  new 
edifice;  what  shall  be  done,  is  a  question  for 
the  Society  to  answer,  and  one  we  cannot 
avoid  if  we  would.  Therefore,  the  Church 
and  Society  are  requested  to  meet  in  this 
room  Friday  evening  (March  27)  to  act  upon 
this  matter.  The  Trustees  will  then  be  pre- 
pared to  report  upon  the  present  condition 
of  the  old  edifice,  and  what  can  and  cannot  be 
done  with  that." 

The  church  continued  to  worship  in  the 
Lecture  Room,  and  while  at  service  there, 
on  the  evening  of  Sunday,  May  7,  1869,  the 
church  building  caught  fire — so  settUng,  once 
for  all,  the  question  of  possible  repairs.  Pass- 
ersby  discovered  a  bright  fight  in  a  window 
of  the  second  story  of  the  tower.  They 
thrust  open  the  door  of  the  Lecture  Room, 
147 


First  Church  Chronicles 

where  Dr.  Condit  was  preaching,  and  shouted, 
"  You  are  on  fire!  "  Dr.  Condit,  raising  his 
hand,  pronounced  the  benediction,  and  the 
congregation  passed  quietly  out,  taking  their 
Bibles  and  hymn  books  with  them.  Mean- 
while, others  had  sounded  a  public  alarm  on 
the  City  Hall  bell,  and  the  firemen  quickly 
arrived.  A  line  of  hose  was  laid  and  water 
drawn  from  the  race  was  poured  into  the 
reservoir  in  front  of  the  Court  House,  thence 
to  be  drawn  again  and  thrown  upon  the  fire 
in  three  streams.  The  flames  soon  reached  the 
belfry  and  then  mounted  to  the  steeple,  which 
stood  Hke  a  pillar  of  fire.  It  was  not  long, 
however,  before  only  the  frame  work  of  the 
spire  remained  and  that  finally  fell,  crash- 
ing on  the  roof  of  the  Chapel.  Tradition 
says  the  gilt  star  and  iron  weather  vane  went 
completely  through  the  roof,  carrying  with 
them  a  large  amount  of  the  plastered  ceiling. 

The  fire  occurred  at  a  time  when  incendiarism 
was  very  prevalent  and  the  tower  in  which 
the  fire  first  appeared  was  easy  of  access  when 
the  Chapel  was  open.  As  the  loss  was  for- 
tunately covered  by  insurance,  the  fire  only 
hastened  the  proposed  demolition  of  the  old 
church  building.  Nevertheless,  deprived  now 
of  church  as  well  as  pastor,  it  was  a  discouraging 
148 


First  Church  Chronicles 

period  for  the  congregation.  This  is  well 
indicated  by  the  following  note,  recorded 
under  date  of  September  5,  1869, — so  dif- 
ferent from  most  First  Church  records:  "  Dr. 
Condit  met  with  a  welcome  from  the  small 
body  of  persons  who  will  constitute  the  con- 
gregation of  this  church.  He  will  preach  for 
us  all  winter.  With  no  place  but  our  Lecture 
Room  to  meet  in,  and  even  that  in  a  dilapi- 
dated condition,  never  having  been  repaired 
since  the  fire;  with  no  pastor,  or  any  settled 
plans  for  a  new  edifice,  our  membership  and 
congregation  are  fast  diminishing." 

XXV 

Planning  for  a  New  Building 

Though  these  were  the  darkest  days  in 
First  Church  history,  they  were  bravely  met. 
A  considerable  portion  of  the  congregation 
favored  the  sale  of  the  property — seeing  in 
the  city  a  probable  buyer — and  then  the 
purchase  of  a  site  in  a  quieter  neighborhood. 
Others,  to  whom  the  central  location  had 
grown  dear,  opposed  a  sale,  desiring  to  rebuild 
on  the  old  site.  On  December  19,  1869, 
there  was  a  meeting  of  the  Society,  at  which, 
after  protracted  discussion  and  argument, 
it  was  voted  that  the  property  should  be  sold 
149 


First  Church  Chronicles 

to  the  city  for  not  less  than  ^25,000,  and  to 
this  end  the  Trustees  were  empowered  to 
take  the  necessary  steps.  But  a  Court  de- 
cision, handed  down  in  the  following  April, 
required  the  Trustees  before  giving  deed  for 
the  existing  property  to  select  a  new  site, 
which  the  Church  should  by  vote  approve. 
In  June  a  meeting  of  the  Church  and  Society 
was  held  to  take  action  on  that  point.  Every 
person  entitled  to  a  vote  was  present  and  was 
given  opportunity  to  express  his  choice.  Fi- 
nally it  was  agreed  by  all  that  a  lot  at  the 
corner  of  Plymouth  Avenue  and  Spring  Street, 
85  feet  on  Plymouth  Avenue  and  100  feet  on 
Spring  Street,  should  be  purchased. 

Judge  E.  Darwin  Smith,  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  then  gave  permission  for  the  sale  of 
the  old  lot  and  the  Common  Council  adopted 
a  resolution  for  its  purchase  at  $25,000.  The 
deed  was  passed  on  June  30,  1870.  The  very 
next  day  deeds  from  J.  Mogridge  and  wife, 
Whiting  Wadsworth  and  wife,  and  Sarah  S. 
Lewis  for  the  aggregate  amount  of  $21,600  to 
the  First  Presbyterian  Society,  were  passed, 
conveying  the  site  of  the  present  church.  All 
these  deeds  were  drawn  by  Oscar  Craig. 

A  location  having  been  thus  at  last  secured, 
plans  for  the  new  building  were  made  by  A. 
150 


First  Church  Chronicles 

J.  Warner  &  Company.  These  provided 
for  an  auditorium  62  by  89  feet  and  a  chapel 
68  by  31  feet.  The  architecture  was  Gothic, 
and  the  proposed  building  material  Albion 
red  sandstone  with  white  Medina  stone  trim- 
mings. The  interior  woodwork  was  to  be  of 
black  walnut  and  in  the  windows  there  was  to 
be  the  best  quality  of  stained  glass.  It  was 
planned  that  the  church  should  have  a  tower 
which,  with  a  spire,  would  reach  160  feet  in 
height. 

The  structure  actually  erected  sufficiently 
indicates  the  extent  to  which  these  plans  were 
subsequently  modified,  to  the  greater  beauty 
of  the  building.*  The  original  contract,  ex- 
clusive of  spire,  windows  and  furnishings, 
and  of  repairs  to  a  house  which,  standing  at 
the  south  side  of  the  lot,  was  to  be  used  as  a 
parsonage,  was  ^60,000.  The  stone  spire  cost 
an  additional  ^10,000;  organ,  pews,  furni- 
ture and  carpets,  ^15,000;  and  the  parson- 
age repairs,  ^3000,  making  the  total  cost, 
including  the  lot,  $110,000.  To  meet  this 
expenditure,  there  was,  as  early  as  April  i, 
1871,  $7000,  "  over  all  encumbrances  ";  sub- 
scriptions to  the  amount  of  $42,000;  and  a 
promise  by  the  ladies  to  raise  $1000  for 
*  Vd.  the  Frontispiece. 
151 


First  Church  Chronicles 

carpets,  etc.  During  the  next  year  there 
were  additions  to  the  building  fund  to  the 
amount  of  nearly  ^9000,  and  in  the  year  of  the 
building's  dedication  there  were  general  sub- 
scriptions of  about  $28,000,  an  organ  fund 
of  $1000,  interest  accumulations  of  $2000,  and 
the  gift  of  a  bell,  valued  at  $2000,  from  George 
S.  Riley — so  that  at  the  dedication,  Mr. 
Robertson,  who  was  then  pastor,  was  able  to 
announce:  "  We  can  say  that  the  church  is 
dedicated  to  the  Lord  to-night  virtually  free 
from  debt." 

XXVI 

The  Coming  of  Mr.  Robertson 

Meanwhile,  the  attention  of  the  church  had 
not  been  wholly  focused  upon  material  mat- 
ters. Exceeding  care  was  given  to  the  selec- 
tion of  a  new  pastor,  the  unanimous  choice 
falling  at  last  upon  Rev.  James  L.  Robertson, 
who,  though  still  a  young  man,  had  had,  as 
one  of  the  newspapers  said,  "  ten  years  of 
rich  and  valuable  experience,"  and  was  then 
pastor  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Cincinnati.  Mr.  Robertson  had  received  his 
theological  education  in  Allegheny,  Pa.,  and 
had  had  a  pastorate  in  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  before 
going  to  Cincinnati.  In  view  of  the  sad 
152 


First  Church  Chronicles 

experience  of  the  church  with  Drs.  Pease  and 
Beadle,  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  new 
pastor-elect  was  described  as  of  "  vigorous, 
robust  health."  It  is  significant  of  the  chang- 
ing times  that  the  salary  now  proffered  was 
^3000,  and  in  addition  there  was  to  be  the 
use  of  the  house.  Whatever  the  vicissitudes 
of  the  church,  it  was  not  poor. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Society  held  October 
2,  1870,  formal  announcement  was  made  of 
Mr.  Robertson's  acceptance  of  the  call.  He 
began  his  duties  with  the  church  on  Novem- 
ber 13th,  and  on  the  evening  of  December 
7,  1870,  he  was  installed.  The  exercises  were 
necessarily  held  in  the  Chapel,  or  Lecture 
Room,  which  was  filled,  the  congregation 
including  not  only  First  Church  members, 
but  many  from  other  churches.  The  sermon, 
which  is  described  as  "  able,  eloquent,  and  of 
great  power,"  was  preached  by  Rev.  Walter 
Clark,  D.D.,  of  Buffalo,  who  took  a  "  good 
conscience "  as  his  subject.  The  installa- 
tion prayer  was  made  by  Rev.  Levi  Parsons 
of  Mt.  Morris;  Rev.  J.  R.  Page  of  Avon 
propounded  the  constitutional  questions  and 
declared  the  pastoral  relations  consummated; 
and  Rev.  Dr.  Shaw  gave  the  charge  to  the 
pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Campbell  of  Central  Church 


First  Church  Chronicles 

delivered  the  charge  to  the  people,  and  Dr. 
Cromwell  of  St.  Peter's  made  the  concluding 
prayer. 

XXVII 

Cornerstone  Laying  and  Dedication 
of  New  Church 

Work  was  now  proceeding  on  the  new  church. 
The  Common  Council  of  the  city  was  asked 
to  allow  the  removal  of  the  cornerstone  of  the 
old  building,  so  that  its  contents  might  be  added 
to  the  fresh  material  which  should  go  into  the 
new  cornerstone,  and  for  the  collection  of  the 
latter  material  a  committee  was  appointed. 
The  cornerstone  of  the  old  church  was  sub- 
sequently laid  in  the  center  of  the  new  spire, 
only  a  few  feet  from  the  top.  This  is  stated 
by  Mr.  Robertson  in  his  address  at  the  dedi- 
cation. 

The  ceremony  of  laying  the  new  cornerstone 
took  place  at  3  p.m..  May  17,  1871,  "  beneath 
a  large  canvas  erected  for  the  occasion." 
The  program  was  as  follows:  Rev.  H.  M. 
Morey  of  Westminster  Church  read  the  Scrip- 
ture and  offered  prayer;  the  choir  sang, 
"  Glorious  things  of  thee  are  spoken  ";  Dr. 
Campbell  of  Central  Church  followed,  with 
remarks;  and  then  Dr.  McLaren,  the  pastor 
154 


First  Church  Chronicles 

of  1845-47,  who  had  come  over  from  Geneva, 
made  a  long  address.  Next  there  were  brief 
remarks  by  A.  W.  Riley,  the  only  person 
present  who  had  witnessed  the  laying  of  the 
cornerstone  of  the  old  church.  The  box  was 
then  placed  within  the  stone.  Upon  its  cover 
was  the  inscription: 

Isaiah  LXI,  4 

First  Church  Society  Documents  for 

Future  Generations 

The  pastor,  on  behalf  of  the  Society,  pre- 
sented to  William  H.  Gorsline,  the  contractor, 
a  **  magnificent  silver  trowel,"  engraved  with 
his  name  and  the  occasion.  The  trowel  was 
bought  at  the  jewelry  store  of  John  T.  Fox. 

Unfortunately,  many  of  the  papers  in  the 
old  cornerstone  had  been  found  so  far  de- 
stroyed by  moisture  and  decay  as  to  be  illeg- 
ible. The  following,  however,  are  some  of 
the  numerous  articles  which  went  into  the 
new  stone  on  the  Plymouth  Avenue  side  of 
the  tower: 

Twenty-five  cent  piece  of  1805. 

Penny  of  181 1. 

Printed  matter  from  the  old  cornerstone. 

Piece  of  the  old  pulpit. 

Piece  of  the  old  bell. 


First  Church  Chronicles 


Sunday  School  Record  book  containing: 

Views  of  the  old  Church  and  old  Lecture  Room. 

Views  of  the  new  Church  and  new  Lecture  Room. 

List  of  all  officers  and  teachers,  1871. 

Each  class,  its  name,  teacher,  etc. 

Full  record  of  Infant  Department. 

Autographs  of  officers  and  teachers. 

Autographs  of  pastors  and  their  wives. 

Autographs  of  Sunday  School  Superintendents. 

Notes  of  the  first  and  last  meetings  in  the  old  Lecture 
Room.  Description  of  the  fall  of  the  ceiling,  the  de- 
cision to  buy  the  present  lot,  and  the  burning  of  the 
tower. 

Subscribers  and  amounts  given  for  building  of  the  new 
Church. 

Newspapers  giving  account  of  the  burning  of  the  old 
Church. 

Photographs  of  individuals. 

History  of  the  Church  and  Society  from  1813  to  1871. 

List  of  pastors  and  members  of  the  Church — City 
Directory,  1870. 

Directory  of  Powers  Commercial  Building. 

Report  of  Managers  of  House  of  Refuge. 

Report  of  Rochester  Athenaeum. 

Alumni  Proceedings  of  University  of  Rochester,  and 
Seminary,  1867. 

Rules  and  Regulations,  Home  for  Idle  and  Truant 
Children. 

Presbyterian  Report  of  Home  Missions. 

Home  Missionary  Magazine  for  1 871. 

Christian  Almanac,  1863,  '65,  '69,  '70. 

Temperance  Almanac,  1870. 

"  The  Well  at  Bethlehem's  Gate."  Poem,  Rev.  J.  A. 
Ely  before  Rochester  Alumni. 

"  Half  Century  of  Rochester  Presbytery." 

Address  before  Monroe  County  Teachers'  Association 

156 


First  Church  Chronicles 

on  work  of  past  two  years,  Fiftieth  Annual  Report  of 
New  York  Sunday  School  Teachers'  Association. 

Third  National  Sunday  School  Convention  of  U.  S.  A. 

Report,  Rochester  Female  Charitable  Society. 

"  Hospital  Review "  and  "  Industrial  School  Advo- 
cate." 

Various  Church  and  Sunday  School  magazines  and 
papers. 

Obituaries  of  Professor  Dewey,  Dr.  Levi  Ward,  Mrs. 
Maria  W.  Smith,  Jacob  Gould,  Moses  Chapin,  Calvin 
Pease,  W.  C.  Bloss. 

Manuals  of  Brick,  Central  and  Plymouth  Churches. 

Churches  in  New  York  City. 

St.  Luke's  Church  History. 

Collection  of  views  of  great  flood. 

Dr.  Campbell  of  Central  Church  said,  in 
his  remarks  at  the  laying  of  the  cornerstone, 
that  the  old  First  was  not  merely  the 
"  mother "  of  a  half  dozen  Presbyterian 
churches,  but  was  the  "  grandmother  "  of  all 
the  others  in  the  city.  Referring  then  to 
the  various  churches,  he  ingeniously  elaborated 
the  idea  in  this  way:  "The  eldest  is  here  to- 
day to  rejoice  with  her  mother.  The  second 
daughter  will  be  present — she  is  yet  hale  and 
hearty  and  will  be  here  from  Temple  Street. 
Another  sister  is  here  who  occupies  a  Central 
position;  another  sister,  with  her  book  upon 
her  arm,  and  her  robe,  is  here  to-day  to  give 
you  a  right-hand  greeting.  There  is  a  grand- 
daughter from  Jefferson  Street;  another  from 
157 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Grand  Street,  one  from  Hudson  Street,  and 
one  from  Allen,  and  the  one  from  St.  Paul 
Street,  who  faces  the  Jews  and  is  ready  to  defend 
those  who  trust  in  the  God  of  their  fathers." 

It  may  be  well  also  to  quote  the  following 
verses,  written  by  Mrs.  S.  J.  Nichols  on  the 
occasion  of  the  laying  of  the  cornerstone. 
It  is  believed  that  they  were  read  by  Mr. 
Robertson,  but  whether  they  were  or  not 
they  are  interesting  for  their  own  merit, 
for  the  affection  so  widely  felt  for  the  gentle 
lady  who  wrote  them,  and  for  their  illustra- 
tion of  the  spirit  with  which  members  of  the 
church  regarded  this  occasion: 

Thou  Stone;  by  prophet  long  foretold, 

Cut,  without  hands,  from  mountain  side — 

Thou  precious  Stone;  firm  laid  of  old, 
Foundation  sure,  elect  and  tried. 

Thou  Chief,  Thou  Cornerstone;  the  tower 
Of  Zion's  strength;  her  mighty  Rock; 

Thou  Living  Stone;  whose  vital  power 

Thy  life  doth  pour,  through  each  new  block; 

On  Thee  we  buila;  on  Thee,  alone, 
A  living  church;  nor  hosts  of  hell, 

Nor  power  of  man,  our  Cornerstone 
To  shake  or  crush,  shall  e'er  prevail. 

Be  Thou  our  Master  Builder,  too! 

With  skillful  hand  and  loving  eye 
Choose  Thou  the  stones;  in  order  due 

Their  courses  fair,  lay  strong  and  high. 
158 


First  Church  Chronicles 

With  chisel,  square,  and  hammer  stroke 

Perfect  each  stone;  assign  its  place, 
Nor  cease,  till  topmost  sound  evoke 
The  hallowed  shout  of  Grace,  free  Grace! 

The  dedication  of  the  new  church  took  place 
on  the  evening  of  June  23,  1872,  Dr.  Mc- 
Ilvaine  returning  to  preach  the  sermon  and 
Mr.  Robertson  making  the  actual  dedication. 
Long  before  the  hour  appointed  for  the  exer- 
cises, the  church  was  crowded,  so  that  many 
had  to  turn  away.  The  music  was  rendered  by 
a  double  quartette,  the  members  of  which  had 
been  selected  from  the  various  choirs  of  the  city. 

The  program  consisted  of  an  invocation  by 
Rev.  D.  K.  Bartlett;  the  hymn,  "  Before 
Jehovah's  Awful  Throne  ";  Scripture  reading 
by  Rev.  James  B.  Shaw,  D.D.;  the  hymn, 
"  Arise,  Oh  King  of  Grace,  Arise  ";  sermon 
by  Dr.  Mcllvaine;  the  hymn,  "All  Hail 
the  Power  of  Jesus'  Name ";  remarks  and 
dedicatory  prayer  by  Mr.  Robertson,  and  then 
the  following  hymn : 

O,  Thou  whose  own  vast  temple  stands, 

Built  over  earth  and  sea. 
Accept  the  walls,  that  human  hands 

Have  raised  to  worship  Thee. 

Lord,  from  Thine  inmost  glory  send, 

Within  these  courts  to  bide. 
The  peace  that  dwelleth  without  end. 

Serenely  by  Thy  side. 

159 


First  Church  Chronicles 

May  faith  grow  firm  and  love  grow  warm, 

And  pure  devotion  rise, 
While  'round  these  hallowed  walls,  the  storm 

Of  earth-born  passion  dies. 

Dr.  Mcllvaine  pronounced  the  benediction. 

In  his  dedicatory  address,  Mr.  Robertson 
expressed  the  special  gratitude  of  the  church 
to  the  chairman  of  the  building  committee, 
C.  J.  Hayden.  For  his  sermon.  Dr.  Mcllvaine 
took  as  his  text  the  words  (I  Peter,  II,  5), 
"  Ye,  also,  as  Hving  stones,  are  building  up  a 
spiritual  house."  Urging  that  "  the  glory 
of  this  latter  house  shall  be  greater  than  of 
the  former,"  he  exclaimed: 

How  full,  dear  brethren,  is  the  past  history  of  this 
church,  of  solemn  and  tender  memories.  The  first  to 
raise  the  standard  of  the  cross  in  this  then  wilderness, 
she  has  continued  to  hold  up  this  glorious  banner  before 
the  incoming  population  until  the  present  hour.  And 
what  shall  be  said  of  the  men  who  rallied  around  the  flag 
in  moulding  the  character,  the  institutions,  the  des- 
tinies, of  this  beautiful  city?  Such  men  as  Oliver  Gibbs, 
Daniel  West,  Elisha  and  Hervey  Ely,  Asa  Ainsworth, 
Levi  A.  Ward,  Jacob  Gould,  Everard  Peck,  M.  Green, 
Frederick  Starr,  Moses  Chapin,  and  a  host  of  others,  our 
patriarchs  and  our  peers. 

He  spoke  of  the  number  of  churches  which 
had  sprung  from  the  First,  and  of  the  influence 
for  good  which  she  had  exerted  upon  the  sur- 
rounding country  and  upon  the  world 
Through  her  members  and  the  twenty-five  or  thirty 
ministers  and  missionaries  which  have  been  raised  up  and 
160 


First  Church  Chronicles 

gone  forth  from  her  bosom.  By  such  tokens  of  God's  grace 
and  mercy,  He  has  made  the  history  of  this  church  a  glori- 
ous one.  Such  is  the  glory  of  the  former  house.  Why  do 
I  mention  these  things?  Is  it  to  awaken  your  pride? 
God  forbid!  ...  I  mention  these  things  not  to  awaken 
your  pride,  but  for  your  spiritual  encouragement  and 
for  the  strengthening  of  your  faith,  that  God,  who  has 
done  so  much  for  you  in  the  past,  will  not  forsake  the 
work  of  his  own  hand,  but  will  do,  if  you  are  faithful 
to  His  cause,  still  greater  things  for  you  in  the  future." 

With  great  earnestness,  then,  he  urged 
loyalty,  faithful  attendance  at  all  the  services, 
and  toleration. 

It  is  only  proper  to  add  that  accompanying 
the  happiness  and  pride  which  was  felt  in  the 
beauty  of  the  new  church,  there  was  in  many 
hearts  a  pang  of  regret  at  the  final  severance 
from  the  old.  "  Never,"  wrote  Elder  Terry, 
"  will  that  spot  be  forgotten  by  the  many 
who  there  made  for  the  first  time  public  pro- 
fession of  their  faith  in  Jesus;  there  received 
their  first  Communion;  there  brought  their 
children  to  the  baptismal  font.  .  .  ■»  The  '  Old 
First '  has  a  history  of  rare  interest.  Sermons 
of  great  power  have  been  preached,  and 
scenes  of  surpassing  importance  have  been 
witnessed,  within  its  walls." 


i6i 


First  Church  Chronicles 


XXVIII 

The  Pastorate  of  Mr.  Robertson 

For  all  the  distractions  of  the  new  building, 
the  inner  life  of  the  church  proceeded  vigor- 
ously. A  month  after  the  installation  of  Mr. 
Robertson — on  January  8,  1871 — these  four 
Elders  were  ordained:  William  Burke,  Seth 
H.  Terry,  Charles  J.  Hayden,  and  Oscar 
Craig.  In  the  same  month,  E.  W.  Armstrong, 
who  had  served  for  over  twenty  years,  pre- 
sented his  resignation,  giving  as  his  principal 
reason  age  and  infirmity. 

His  letter,  which  is  very  long,  is  extremely 
interesting  because  of  its  chronicling  of  a 
changing  spirit  in  the  church,  of  the  passing 
of  the  old  straitness,  and  the  dawning  of  what 
— without  recording  judgment  on  its  relative 
quality  from  the  religious  standpoint — might 
be  called  the  modern  spirit.  He  notes  the 
rising  of  "  a  new  generation,"  with  "  new 
ideas,  new  opinions  and  new  usages."  In 
illustration,  he  cites  the  recent  election  of 
Elders,  "  when  the  principle  of  rotation  in 
office  for  a  term  of  years — in  imitation  of  our 
pohtical  elections — was  introduced  and  adopted 
by  a  vote  of  the  church  members  present, 
in  opposition  to  the  remonstrances,  the  en- 
treaties and  the  protestations  of  the  older 
162 


First  Church  Chronicles 

members  of  the  Session."  Moreover,  he  ob- 
serves, there  was  "  unseemly  and  inexcusable 
levity  "  by  "  some  of  the  advocates  of  the 
innovation  " — an  innovation  "  without  war- 
rant from  the  Scriptures."  It  is  the  strong 
letter  of  a  God-fearing  gentleman  of  the  old 
school,  who  sees  evil  days  for  church  and 
state  in  the  growing  frivolity  and  careless- 
ness of  the  community  life.  As  such  it  has 
the  significance  of  marking  clearly  the  dividing 
Hne  between  the  old  and  the  modern  period 
in  the  history  of  the  church. 

Yet  It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  tran- 
sition was  abrupt.  A  Session  minute  of  1871, 
expressing  the  judgment  that  Elders  may 
not  "  legislate  against  specific  things  not 
forbidden  in  the  Scriptures,"  records  also  the 
unanimous  opinion  that  their  duty  was,  clearly, 
to  warn  the  members  of  the  church  against 
"  love  of  the  world  ";  and  for  several  years 
thereafter  remissness  in  attending  services 
on  the  part  of  members  of  the  church  is  noted 
in  the  records  as  individually  reproved. 

On  the  same  day  that  the  newly  elected 
Elders  were  ordained,  two  Deacons  were  con- 
ducted into  oflice— James  F.  Baker  and  John 
T.  Fox.  In  that  month  also  the  pastor  was 
authorized  by  the  Session  to  make  further 
modifications  in  the  phraseology  of  the  stern 
163 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Covenant  which  intending  members  were  ex- 
pected to  adopt;  and  on  Dec.  6,  1871,  the 
first  Wednesday  evening  meeting  was  held 
in  the  new  chapel.  A  few  months  later,  an 
article  in  "  The  Union  and  Advertiser,"  de- 
scribing the  "  new  vigor  "  which  the  church 
was  showing,  attributed  it  to  "  the  sincerity 
and  unaffectedness  "  of  Mr.  Robertson's  preach-, 
ing,  saying  that  "  his  Christian  graces  of  char- 
acter and  earnestness  of  purpose  have  had 
the  best  influence  on  the  congregation.  Its 
membership  has  increased  in  the  face  of 
all  the  discomforts  incident  to  the  changes 
which  the  burning  of  the  old  church  made 
necessary — a  strong  proof  of  the  pastor's 
successful  ministry." 

There  are  other  evidences,  however,  of  this 
progress,  than  newspaper  report.  The  Clerk 
of  the  Session  notes  that  the  new  pastor,  in 
his  first  four  months,  "  visited  all  the  resident 
members  of  the  church,  and  many  of  them, 
especially  in  cases  of  sickness  or  other  afflic- 
tions, repeatedly,"  that,  in  addition,  he  had 
secured  "  thorough  and  complete  visitation 
by  the  Elders  ";  and  that  "  the  monthly  con- 
cert of  prayer  for  missions,"  suspended  for 
about  two  years,  had  been  "  revived  with 
even  more  than  former  interest." 

A   notable  action   of  1873   was   the   change 
164 


First  Church  Chronicles 

of  the  time  of  Preparatory  Lecture,  from  the 
afternoon  to  the  evening  of  the  Friday  pre- 
ceding Communion;  and  it  was  during  Mr. 
Robertson's  pastorate  that  there  was  inaug- 
urated the  custom,  still  observed,  of  holding 
a  New  Year  Prayer  Meeting  on  January  ist. 

In  the  church  year  of  1874-5,  Emmanuel 
Mission  was  started,  the  First  Church  raising 
in  that  year  ^4095  for  the  Mission  building, 
and  thereafter  assuming  for  many  years  sub- 
stantial payments  for  maintenance  and  for 
interest  on  the  mortgage,  though  so  little 
time  had  passed  since  its  own  costly  structure 
had  been  erected.  In  1875  ^Iso  there  was 
organized  the  Woman's  Missionary  Society, 
which  on  March  30th  began  a  series  of  monthly 
meetings  that  have  suffered  no  interruption 
in  the  ensuing  forty  years.  The  first  officers 
were  Mrs.  S.  J.  Nichols,  President;  Mrs. 
W.  H.  Perkins,  Vice-President;  and  Miss 
Louise  J.  Ailing,  Secretar}^  and  Treasurer. 
In  the  following  year  Messrs.  George  Breck, 
James  F.  Baker  and  A.  G.  Bassett  were  or- 
dained Elders,  Oscar  Craig  resigned  in  De- 
cember of  1875. 

The  genuineness  of  the  advance  which  the 

church    was    making     under    Mr.    Robertson, 

in  regaining  strength   lost  during  its   troubles 

of  1860-70,  was  shortly  to  be  tested.     Quite 

165 


First  Church  Chronicles 

suddenly,  on  May  31,  1877,  Mr.  Robertson 
presented  his  resignation.  The  letter  is  only 
half  a  dozen  lines  in  length  and  tells  nothing 
of  the  reasons.  But  that  they  seemed  ade- 
quate to  pastor  and  people  is  indicated  by  the 
pressing  and  acceptance  of  the  resignation. 
In  accepting  it,  however,  the  church  adopted 
by  a  rising  vote  a  series  of  affectionate  reso- 
lutions. "  We  cannot  express,"  these  said, 
**  our  love  for  him  or  our  gratitude  for  his 
ministry  and  work  among  us."  It  was  noted 
that  there  had  been  a  "net  increase  of  114 
in  the  Communicants  of  the  church,  though 
the  total  resident  membership  is  only  about 
four  hundred  ";  that  as  a  preacher  Mr, 
Robertson  had  "  presented  the  truth  with 
great  tenderness  and  faithfulness,  and  with 
power  over  the  heart  and  conscience  ";  and 
that  "  as  a  pastor  he  has  sympathized  with 
us  in  affliction,  guided  us  in  perplexity  and  con- 
firmed and  strengthened  us  in  trial." 

It  is  proper  to  add  that  coupled  with  the 
sorrow  occasioned  by  the  departure  of  the 
pastor,  there  was  very  keen  regret  for  the  leav- 
ing of  Mrs.  Robertson.  She  had  been  an 
"  ideal  pastor's  wife.  Every  one  loved  her 
and  confided  in  her;  while  the  love  which 
she  returned  to  the  people  of  her  husband's 
church  expressed  itself  in  all  manner  of  helpful- 
166 


First  Church  Chronicles 

ness    and    ever    ready    sympathy    and    under- 
standing." 

On  June  nth,  Presbytery  dissolved  the 
pastoral  relation,  unanimously  adopting  reso- 
lutions expressing  warm  appreciation  and 
esteem.  After  leaving  Rochester,  Mr.  Robert- 
son went  to  Cortland,  N.  Y.  Still  faithfully 
engaged  in  the  Master's  business,  he  is  now 
pastor  of  a  church  at  Bronxville,  N.  Y. 

XXIX 

Dr.  Robinson  as  Pastor 

Six  months  after  Mr.  Robertson  left,  the 
church  elected  as  pastor  Rev.  Lawrence  M. 
Colfert  of  Philadelphia.  The  call  was  decHned. 
On  February  5,  1878,  a  committee  was  again 
appointed  to  select  a  candidate,  and  a  month 
later  announced  its  choice  as  Rev.  Charles 
E.  Robinson,  D.D.,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.  Dr. 
Robinson  was  unanimously  elected. 

The  pastor-elect  was  then  forty-three  years 
old.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Hamilton  College 
and  of  Auburn  Theological  Seminary.  He 
had  been  pastor  of  the  Second  Street  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  Troy  for  eleven  years, 
and  previous  to  that  had  had  a  three-years' 
pastorate  in  Oneida.  At  the  time  of  his  com- 
ing to  Rochester,  a  newspaper  said  of  him, 
**  He  is  of  noble  presence  and  graceful  carriage, 
167 


First  Church  Chronicles 

exhibiting  in  his  speech  the  refinement  of 
elegant  culture.  ...  In  the  simplest  service 
he  possesses  a  persuasive  eloquence.  .  ,  .  He 
has  large,  beaming,  tender  eyes,  and  there  is 
about  him  a  tenderness  that  takes  hold  of 
the  human  nature  in  you  and  pleads  with  you." 

Dr.  Robinson  preached  his  initial  sermon 
in  the  church  on  the  morning  of  March  i6th, 
before  a  congregation  "  which  filled  it  to  over- 
flowing." At  the  close  of  this  service  he 
announced  his  acceptance  of  the  call. 

Beginning  his  duties  on  April  7,  1878,  his 
installation  took  place  on  May  14th.  The 
program  included  the  anthem,  "  Oh,  be  joyful 
in  the  Lord  ";  pra)^er  and  Scripture  reading; 
the  hymn,  "Oh,  Lord,  our  God";  sermon 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Herrick  Johnson,  of  Auburn 
Theological  Seminary;  the  anthem,  "  Sweet 
is  Thy  Mercy  ";  constitutional  questions  by 
Rev.  Charles  Durfee,  Moderator  of  Presby- 
tery; installing  pra3^er  by  Rev.  Corliss  B. 
Gardner;  anthem,  "  How  Lovely  are  the 
Messengers  ";  charge  to  the  pastor  by  Rev. 
Herman  C.  Riggs;  charge  to  the  people  by 
Rev.  George  Patton;  and  the  hymn,  "  I 
love  Thy  Kingdom,  Lord."  A  Session  record 
notes  that  "  the  Chapel  was  filled  with  an 
attentive  audience.  .  .  .  Rev.  Dr.  Herrick 
Johnson's  discourse  was  one  of  great  power 
168 


First  Church  Chronicles 

and  eloquence;  and  the  charges  to  pastor 
and  people  were  solemn  and  forcible.  The 
heartiest  and  happiest  congratulations  were 
extended  to  the  newly  installed  pastor  after 
the  congregation  was  dismissed." 

The  eight  and  a  half  years  of  Dr.  Robinson's 
pastorate  carried  still  further  forward  the 
rehabiHtation  so  well  commenced  under  his 
predecessor.  The  church  grew  in  numbers, 
financial  strength,  and  spiritual  grace.  Again 
there  was  a  net  gain  of  approximately  a  hun- 
dred members.  A  debt  of  ^12,700  was  paid 
off  in  the  church  year  of  1879-80,  leaving  the 
valuable  new  property  entirely  clear  of  en- 
cumbrance. Contributions  for  benevolent  pur- 
poses, which  had  fallen  from  the  ^8000  reached 
under  Dr.  Mcllvaine  to  an  approximate  of 
^3000  in  1879-80,  exceeded  ^5000  in  the  last 
year  of  Dr.  Robinson's  pastorate.  The  total 
enrollment  of  the  Sunday  School,  including 
Emmanuel  Mission,  rose  from  425  in  1878  to 
upwards  of  900  in  1885. 

As  to  the  spiritual  condition  of  the  church, 
Dr.  Robinson  inaugurated  the  custom  of 
following  the  week  of  prayer  by  four  weeks 
of  special  services,  during  which  he  preached 
almost  every  day  or  evening.  This  was  done 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  in  the  Session 
records  of  1881  there  is  a  note  on  "  the  large 
169 


First  Church  Chronicles 

number  of  young  men  that  are  being  drawn 
to  the  Church  and  Sunday  School."  In  the 
winter  of  1886  the  First,  Brick,  and  Central 
churches  united  in  special  daily  revival  ser- 
vices under  the  leadership  of  Rev.  Edgar  E. 
Davidson.  Many  came  into  the  church  as 
a  result  of  these  meetings  and  of  the  Communi- 
cants' class  conducted  by  the  pastor.  In  fact, 
at  the  April  Communion  of  that  year  the  acces- 
sions by  profession  numbered  forty-six. 

Under  the  rule  of  rotation  in  the  Eldership, 
four  new  Elders  were  ordained  in  January  of 
1879 — George  C.  Buell,  Thomas  Chester,  Menzo 
Van  Voorhis,  and  Charles  H.  Webb;  two  in  Jan- 
uary of  1882— Newell  A.  Stone  and  David 
M.  Hough;  one  in  February  of  1884 — Henry 
Goold;  and  one — John  M.  Pardee — in  Jan- 
uary of  1885.  In  1880,  D.  M.  Hough  succeeded 
George  C.  Buell  as  Superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day School  and  he,  after  five  years'  service, 
was  succeeded  by  John  M.  Pardee.  Mr. 
Pardee,  acting  1 885-1 886,  was  followed  by 
Charles  P.  Ford.  In  1882,  George  W.  Car- 
penter, elected  Treasurer  of  the  Sunday  School, 
began  a  term  of  service  which  was  to  continue 
uninterruptedly  for  thirty-two  years.*  At  or 
about   the   same  time  James   Johnston,  made 

*  The  conclusion  of  it  in  1914  was  fittingly  marked  by 
the  presentation  of  a  silver  loving  cup. 
170 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Treasurer  of  the  church,  took  up  duties  which 
he  still  performs. 

There  were  many  volunteer  workers  in  Em- 
manuel Mission  during  these  years;  and  to 
supplement  their  efforts,  the  Session,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1886,  employed  Rev.  T.  M.  Hodgman 
"  to  labor  in  the  Mission  Sunday  School  field 
for  three  months."  So  satisfactory  were  the 
results  of  Mr.  Hodgman's  efforts  that  in 
September  he  was  appointed  to  take  charge 
of  the  Sunday  evening  services  at  the  Mission. 
On  May  3,  1887,  Emmanuel  was  organized 
into  a  church, — the  youngest  child  of  the 
Mother  First.  Its  church  hfe  began  with  a 
Communicant  roll  of  sixty-eight,  of  whom 
ten  went  from  the  First. 

The  Girls'  Mission  Band  was  started  in  the 
First  Church  in  1885,  through  the  efforts  of 
the  pastor's  wife.  She,  as  in  the  case  of  Mrs. 
Robertson,  was  a  most  efficient  and  loved 
co-worker  with  her  husband.  The  first  meet- 
ings of  the  Band  were  held  at  her  house,  and 
she  was  its  first  president,  giving  to  it  the 
start  which  has  kept  it  through  thirty  years 
an  efficient  organization — with  its  annual  dis- 
tribution of  Christmas  baskets  still  one  of  the 
most  successful  community  activities  of  the 
church.  The  first  Secretary  and  Treasurer 
was  Miss  Julia  0.  Robinson.  Other  organ- 
171 


First  Church  Chronicles 

izations  of  Dr.  Robinson's  pastorate  included 
a  Young  People's  Christian  Union  and  a  Mite 
Society. 

An  interesting  event  of  this  period  was  the 
part  of  the  old  First  Church  in  the  semi-cen- 
tennial celebration  of  the  city  of  Rochester 
in  June  of  1884.  On  June  8th  memorial 
services  were  held  both  morning  and  evening. 
The  pulpit  was  decorated  with  palms  and 
tropical  plants  and  in  the  space  in  front  of 
it  was  arranged  a  mass  of  white  flowers  with 
the  figures  "  50  "  in  yellow  roses.  As  already 
stated,  the  morning  sermon  by  Rev.  Tryon 
Edwards  was  the  same  that  he  delivered  at  his 
installation,  fifty  years  before.  In  the  even- 
ing, the  pulpit  was  occupied  by  Rev.  F. 
De  W.  Ward,  D.D.,  of  Geneseo,  who  in  1834 
had  been  ordained  in  the  First  Church  as  a 
missionary  to  India.  His  text  was  from  Psalms 
XVII,  15,  "I  shall  be  satisfied  when  I  awake 
in  Thy  likeness."  Having  closed  his  sermon. 
Dr.  Ward  drew  from  his  pocket  an  old  and 
yellow  manuscript,  which,  he  said,  was  the 
same  sermon  in  substance  as  that  which  he 
had  just  delivered.  On  its  margin  was  written, 
"  Preached  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
Rochester,  June  8,  1834."  He  then  paid 
tribute  to  the  pastors.  Elders,  and  early  mem- 
bers of  the  church. 

172 


First  Church  Chronicles 

For  many  months  Dr.  Robinson's  health 
had  been  so  poor  that  for  weeks  at  a  time  he 
had  had  to  abstain  from  active  work.  It 
was  therefore  with  no  shock,  though  with 
great  sorrow,  that  at  a  church  meeting  on  No- 
vember i6,  1886,  the  people  received  from  him 
a  letter  in  which  he  asked  that,  on  account  of 
his  health,  they  join  with  him  in  requesting 
Presbytery  to  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation. 

After  many  expressions  of  regret,  a  commit- 
tee was  appointed  to  urge  his  reconsideration 
of  the  action,  and  to  offer  him  a  six  months' 
leave  of  absence.  To  this  committee  Dr. 
Robinson  replied  that  his  resignation  must 
be  considered  final.  He  felt  assured,  he  told 
them — "  though  I  love  Rochester,  and  though 
this  church  is  dear  to  me  " — that  there  was 
little  probability  of  the  prompt  regaining 
of  his  health.  To  remain  would  mean,  then, 
doing  only  a  part  of  his  work,  and  the  letting 
go  of  responsibihties.  This,  considering  the 
needs  of  the  church,  was  an  action  he  could 
not  contemplate.  He  closed  his  reply  by  say- 
ing: "  Having  put  eight  and  a  half  years  of 
my  heart  life  into  this  church  in  the  joyful 
labors  and  privileges  of  the  Gospel  ministry, 
I  shall  not  forget  the  tie  that  has  bound  us 
together,  and  I  can  never  cease  to  remember 
you  with  affection." 

173 


First  Church  Chronicles 

The  Session  and  Trustees,  reporting  to  the 
church  "  the  failure  of  all  efforts  "  to  change 
the  pastor's  decision,  passed  resolutions  in 
which  they  said:  "Not  alone  has  he  labored 
faithfully  and  ably  in  the  house  of  God;  he 
has  come  intimately  into  contact  with  the 
individual  members  of  our  organization.  To 
young  and  old  he  has  been  trusted  guide  and 
loving  friend.  Strong  in  encouragement,  gentle 
in  reproof,  abounding  in  sympathy  and  love, 
he  has  softened  our  griefs  and  intensified  our 
joys.  .  .  .  Our  hopes  and  prayers  go  with 
him." 

As  already  indicated,  Mrs.  Robinson  also 
held  a  very  warm  place  in  the  hearts  of  the 
congregation.  She  was  prominent  in  every 
activity  of  the  church.  There  was  a  peculiar 
charm  in  her  strong  personality,  and  both 
the  pastor  and  his  wife  wonderfully  drew  to 
them  the  young  people  of  the  church,  who  were 
ever  sure  of  their  sympathy  and  under- 
standing. 

Other  convincing  testimony  to  the  affection 
which  was  felt  for  Dr.  Robinson — if  further 
testimony  is  needed — was  offered  in  the  cir- 
cumstance that  quietly,  without  notation  in 
the  formal  records  of  the  church,  there  was 
made  up  for  him  a  purse  of  ^2000,  which  was 
presented  at  the  time  of  his  departure. 
174 


First  Church  Chronicles 

After  leaving  Rochester,  a  considerable  period 
of  rest  so  restored  Dr.  Robinson's  health  that 
he  was  able  to  accept  a  pastorate  in  Scranton, 
Pa.  He  is  now  a  resident  of  Pelham  Manor, 
New  York. 

XXX 

Dr.  Millard 

After  the  departure  of  Dr.  Robinson,  the 
pulpit  was  very  acceptably  suppHed  by  Pro- 
fessor Oren  Root,  of  Hamilton  College.  The 
sermons  of  Professor  Root  estabHshed  so 
high  a  standard  of  thought  that  the  committee 
appointed  to  secure  a  new  pastor  could  not 
fail  to  place  value  on  vigor  of  intellect.  Their 
choice  fell  upon  the  Rev.  Dr.  Nelson  Millard, 
who  then  was  pastor  of  a  church  at  Norwich, 
Conn.  Dr.  Millard  was  born  in  Delhi,  N.  Y. 
in  1834;  was  a  graduate  of  Union  College, 
and  had  received  his  theological  education 
at  Princeton  and  Union  Theological  Semina- 
ries. He  had  then  spent  a  year  and  a  half 
in  Europe.  Before  going  to  Norwich,  he  had 
had  pastorates  at  Montclair,  N.  J.,  and  Peeks- 
kill  and  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  The  honorary 
degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  had  been  given 
to  him  in  1874  ^7  Union  College. 

Dr.  Millard  accepted  the  unanimous  call 
which  the  church  extended  to  him  at  a  meeting 
175 


First  Church  Chronicles 

held  on  June  8,  1887;  and  on  the  i8th  of  the 
following  September  he  began  his  labors.  His 
formal  installation  did  not  take  place,  however, 
until  April  24,  1888,  Dr.  Millard  desiring 
first  to  feel  assured  that  his  breadth  of  view 
was  not  incompatible  with  the  opinions  of 
the  church.     The  program  was  as  follows: 

Voluntary,  organ. 

Invocation,  Rev.  C.  P.  Coit. 

Scripture  Lesson,  Rev.  W.  R.  Taylor,  D.D. 

Hymn,  Rev.  J.  S.  Root. 

Prayer,  Rev.  Edward  Bristol. 

Anthem,  Choir. 

Sermon,  Rev.  S.  S.  Mitchell,  D.D. 

Constitutional    Questions,    Rev.    T.    D. 
Hunt,  Moderator. 

Installing    prayer,    Rev.    George    Patton, 
D.D. 

Charge  to  pastor,  Rev.  J.  B.  Shaw,  D.D. 

Charge  to  people,  Rev.  Charles  E.  Robin- 
son, D.D. 

Hymn,  Rev.  J.  E.  Kittridge,  D.D. 

Benediction,  Rev.  Nelson  Millard,  D.D. 

The  coming  of  the  new  pastor  was  followed, 
as  so  often,  by  considerable  changes  in  per- 
sonnel among  church  officials.  Thomas  Chester 
was  elected  Sunday  School  Superintendent, 
serving  from  1888  to  1890,  when  Charles 
Chichester  succeeded  him.  On  February  3, 
1889,  four  Elders  were  ordained — Arthur  S. 
176 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Hamilton,  Prof.  Geo.  D.  Olds,  Charles  F.  Pond 
and  Thomas  Chester — the  latter  re-elected. 
With  the  beginning  of  the  new  church  year, 
April  I,  1888,  the  envelope  system  was  adopted 
for  collections  for  benevolences,  and  coin- 
cidently  with  the  change  George  W.  Carpenter 
was  made  financial  secretary — a  position  which 
he  has  since  held  continuously.  The  follow- 
ing year  the  envelope  system  was  adopted 
also  for  the  current  expenses  of  the  church, 
and,  as  stated,  James  Johnston,  Treasurer 
then,  is  Treasurer  still.  On  Easter  Sunday, 
in  April,  of  1889,  there  was  begun  yet  another 
term  of  service  whose  length  is  still  unbroken, 
William  Rowe  commencing  then  his  work  as 
sexton.  The  fidehty  of  the  latter  is  sufficiently 
attested  by  the  fact  that  in  the  twenty-six 
subsequent  years,  he  has  missed  only  two 
services — when,  for  one  Sunday,  he  was  ex- 
cused to  attend  the  Columbian  Exposition  in 
Chicago.  Thus  it  may  be  noted  that  in  all 
departments  the  loyalty  of  service  which 
the  First  Church  has  ever  been  able  to  com- 
mand, did  not  pass  with  the  older  generation. 
While  scholarly  sermons  were  the  dominant 
characteristic  of  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Millard, 
and  while  it  is  proper  for  the  historian  to 
pass  with  rapidity  over  these  well-remembered 
later  3^ears,  yet  there  stand  out  certain  events 
177 


First  Church  Chronicles 

which    demand    chronicle,    that    the    History 
of  a  Hundred  Years  may  be  complete. 

Within  two  years  after  the  installation  of 
Dr.  Millard — i.e.,  in  1890 — the  First  Church 
had  not  only  paid  off  an  accumulated  float- 
ing indebtedness,  but  had  canceled  the 
mortgage  on  the  property  of  Emmanuel  Church, 
raising  a  fund  of  $2000  for  Emmanuel's 
debts.  At  the  same  time  there  were  sub- 
stantial increases  in  the  contributions  for 
benevolent  purposes,  and  the  Session  notes 
record  "  a  new  awakening  "  in  the  spiritual 
life  of  the  church.  In  1 891-2  the  second 
Sunday  service  was  changed  from  evening  to 
late  afternoon;  and  in  the  summer  of  1892, 
under  the  direction  of  the  women  of  the  church, 
the  walls  of  the  auditorium  and  chapel  were 
redecorated,  the  beautiful  mosaic  by  Mait- 
land  Armstrong,  which  is  now  in  place  behind 
the  pulpit,  was  installed,  and  new  carpets  and 
upholstery  were  provided — the  whole  expense 
amounting  to  ^5224,  exclusive  of  the  cost 
of  a  memorial  window  which  was  given  pri- 
vately. Other  windows  of  exceptional  beauty 
have  followed,  and  in  1895  the  small  parson- 
age which  so  crowded  the  church  lot  was  torn 
down,  and  the  old  pipe  organ  was  replaced  by 
the  present  instrument,  representing  a  value 
of  nearly  ^10,000. 

178 


First  Church  Chronicles 

On  May  15,  1896,  a  great  sorrow  came  to 
the  church  in  the  death  of  the  pastor's  wife, 
Mrs.  Alice  Boyd  Millard.  Mrs.  Millard  was 
admired,  loved  and  honored  by  the  entire 
congregation.  The  resolutions  adopted  by  the 
Session  fittingly  speak  of  her  "  rare  social 
quaHties "  and  of  her  "  intelHgent  devotion 
to  the  work  of  the  church."  The  latter  was 
shown  through  her  activity  in  the  Women's 
Missionary  Society,  in  the  Sunday  School, 
and  in  every  department  of  the  church  life. 
In  Mrs.  Robertson,  Mrs.  Robinson  and  Mrs. 
Millard,  there  was  a  consecutive  trinity  of 
pastor's  wives  in  which  the  church  had  been 
exceptionally  blessed.  The  individuahty  of 
each  was  strongly  marked,  and  each  was 
deeply  loved. 

On  October  i,  1898,  at  the  house  of  Mrs. 
Gormly,  there  was  organized  the  Women's 
Association  for  Christian  Work.  Subsequently 
rechristened  the  Women's  Guild,  this  is  still 
a  very  important  factor  in  the  work  of  the 
church.  It  is  composed  of  chapters,  to  each 
of  which  some  special  branch  of  activity  is 
assigned;  and  its  monthly  meetings,  which 
have  been  held  regularly  during  the  seventeen 
years  since  its  formation,  never  fail  in  interest. 
Much  of  both  active  work  and  financial  aid 
have  resulted  from  the  Guild.  Its  first  ojfficers 
179 


First  Church  Chronicles 

were:  President,  Mrs.  William  R.  Gormly; 
Vice-presidents,  Miss  Sallie  Hall,  Mrs.  Arthur 
Robinson  and  Mrs.  John  H.  Brewster;  Treas- 
urer, Miss  Rumsey;  Assistant  Treasurer,  Miss 
Mary  Morse;  Secretary,  Mrs.  Arthur  L. 
Baker. 

In  1893  the  children  of  the  Industrial 
School,  who  for  many  years  had  attended 
the  First  Church — marching  in  a  body  up  the 
south  aisle  to  occupy  the  front  cross  pews 
— ceased  their  attendance,  the  School  giving 
up  at  that  time  the  housing  of  children.  On 
January  30,  1895,  Professor  Arthur  L.  Baker 
was  ordained  an  Elder  of  the  Church,  and  on 
February  27,  1898,  Delbert  C.  Hibbard  was 
so  ordained. 

At  the  morning  service  of  October  i,  1900, 
Dr.  Millard  read  to  the  congregation  a  letter 
of  resignation.  His  pastorate  was  then  the 
longest  which  the  First  Church  had  had. 
"  You  have  made  for  me,"  he  said,  "  these 
thirteen  years  of  my  Hfe  among  you,  by  your 
unbroken  respect,  loyalty  and  love,  years  of 
such  enjoyment  of  the  pastoral  relation  as 
falls  to  the  lot  of  very  few  ministers."  Yet, 
he  announced,  he  had  come  to  "  a  settled 
conviction  that  some  other  and  younger  man 
can  do  better  than  myself  the  work  needed  to 
be  done  by  the  pastor  of  this  church  and  can 
180 


First  Church  Chronicles 

inspire  you  to  do  more  thoroughl}^  the  work 
which  you,  its  people,  need  to  do.  I  believe 
you  are  entitled  to  the  more  vigorous  services 
that  some  younger  man  can  render,"  He 
therefore  presented  his  resignation,  adding, 
"  No  words  can  express  the  sadness  I  feel 
in  contemplating  that  the  time  is  near  when  I 
can  no  longer  say  that  you  are  '  my  people.'  " 
The  church  earnestly  asked  that  the  resigna- 
tion be  withdrawn,  proposing  the  appoint- 
ment of  an  associate  to  relieve  Dr.  Millard 
of  pastoral  cares.  On  October  17th,  he  re- 
plied that  his  conviction  was  final,  and  a  month 
later,  November  15,  1900,  Presbytery  dis- 
solved the  pastoral  relation.  He  still  occupied 
the  pulpit  for  a  time,  however.  Taking  no 
other  pastorate,  he  remained  in  Rochester, 
maintaining  close  social  relations  with  the 
congregation.  His  death  occurred  January  5, 
1910,  and  the  funeral  was  from  the  church 
which  had  so  long  been  his  and  where  his 
friends  were  so  many. 

XXXI 

Dr.  Miller 

At  a  Wednesday    evening    meeting    on  No- 
vember 21,  1900,  the  committee  appointed  to 
secure    a    successor    to    Dr.    Millard    reported 
its  choice  of  the  Rev.  George  D.  Miller,  who 
i8i 


First  Church  Chronicles 

then  had  a  church  at  Warsaw,  N.  Y.  Mr. 
Miller  was  a  graduate  of  Hamilton  College 
and  of  Union  Theological  Seminary.  He  was 
a  young  man,  as  Dr.  Millard  had  recommended 
that  his  successor  should  be,  being  but  thirty- 
two;  but  he  had  had  his  charge  in  Warsaw 
for  six  years,  and  prior  to  that  had  been 
pastor  for  two  years  of  a  church  at  Southold, 
Long  Island.  The  call  was  unanimously  given, 
and  was  accepted,  Mr.  Miller  beginning  his 
work  with  the  new  year. 

The  installation  took  place  on  May  3,  1901. 
The  sermon  was  by  Rev.  William  R.  Taylor, 
D.D.,  of  the  Brick  Church,  who  selected  Ephe- 
sians  'H,  8,  as  his  text.  The  charge  to  the 
pastor  was  deHvered  by  Rev.  Herman  C. 
Riggs,  D.D.,  and  the  charge  to  the  people 
by  Dr.  Millard.  Rev.  Dr.  Kittridge,  of 
Geneseo,  offered  the  closing  prayer  and  pro- 
nounced the  benediction. 

Following  the  installation  of  Mr.  Miller, 
Charles  P.  Ford  and  Frederick  A.  Sherwood 
were  ordained  as  Elders,  on  June  2,  1901,  and 
Frederick  Durand  and  Charles  Mulford  Robin- 
son as  Deacons.  Mr.  Durand  died  the  fol- 
lowing year,  and  Mr.  Robinson  and  John  P. 
Silvernail  were,  on  March  7,  1902,  made 
Elders,  when  E.  N.  Walbridge,  G.  H.  Parmelee 
and  A.  Findlay  were  elected  Deacons.  On 
182 


First  Church  Chronicles 

June  6,  1904,  Edward  N.  Walbridge  was  or- 
dained an  Elder;  and  in  October,  1906,  F.  A. 
Combs  was  made  Deacon. 

Under  the  new  pastor's  leadership  the  activ- 
ities of  the  church  began  to  expand,  and  within 
the  church  itself  to  aim  at  greater  efficiency. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Society  on  June  12,  1901, 
it  was  voted  that  an  invitation  be  extended  to 
the  Rev.  Robert  F.  Fitch,  of  Ningpo,  China— 
now  of  Hangchow — to  be  its  representative 
in  the  China  mission  field.  The  invitation 
was  accepted,  and  the  Church  has  made 
itself  ever  since  responsible  for  the  major 
portion  of  his  salary.  In  October  of  the  fol- 
lowing year  Miss  Florence  McLaughlin,  who 
had  been  doing  volunteer  work  through  the 
Sunday  School  for  six  months,  was  retained 
on  part  time  as  Pastor's  Assistant,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1904  she  was  engaged  to  give  all  her 
time.  In  September  of  that  ye^r,  the  work 
becoming  still  further  specialized.  Miss  Mc- 
Laughlin's efforts  were  concentrated  on  the 
Sunday  School — especially  on  the  younger 
children  and  on  the  visiting  of  the  homes  of 
the  pupils  of  all  departments — and  the  Rev. 
Stanley  F.  Gutelius,  just  graduated  from 
Auburn  Seminary,  was  called  to  serve  as 
Assistant  Pastor.  Both  Miss  McLaughlin  and 
Mr.  Gutelius  performed  their  duties  to  the 
183 


First  Church  Chronicles 

great  satisfaction  of  the  people,  and  it  was 
with  real  regret  that  in  just  a  year  the  church 
yielded  to  the  necessity  of  letting  Mr.  GuteHus 
go,  that  he  might  accept  a  call  to  the  pastorate 
of  a  church  in  Iowa.  Miss  McLaughlin  is 
still  serving.  The  Superintendents  of  the 
Sunday  School  during  the  pastorate  of  Mr., 
now  Dr.,*  Miller  were:  Roland  B.  Wood- 
ward, 1900-1903;  Clarence  A.  McLaughlin, 
1904-1905;  Charles  Winslow  Smith,  1906- 
1907;   Lloyd  G.  Davis,  1908-1909. 

On  Sunday,  January  9,  1906,  the  church 
celebrated  the  ninetieth  anniversary  of  its 
.organization  under  a  regular  pastor.  At  the 
morning  service.  Dr.  Miller  presented  a  val- 
uable historical  paper  reviewing  the  career 
of  the  church;  and  in  the  afternoon  there  were 
short  addresses  by  Dr.  Millard,  Dr.  William 
S.  Ely,  and  Charles  F.  Pond.  On  the  fol- 
lowing evening,  the  Men's  Club  of  the  church 
held  a  dinner,  at  which  a  hundred  guests  were 
served.  There  were  speeches  by  Charles  M. 
Williams,  grandson  of  the  first  pastor,  by 
Eugene  Denton,  Rev.  Dr.  Converse  of  St. 
Luke's,  Rev.  Dr.  S.  Banks  Nelson  of  St. 
Peter's,  W.  W.  Webb  and  Charles  F.  Pond. 
Music  was  in  charge  of  W.  W.  Chapin. 

*  Hamilton  College  conferred  the  honorary  degree  of 
D.D.  upon  Mr.  Miller  in  June  of  1903. 

184 


First  Church  Chronicles 

As  if  the  recollection  of  its  past  had  given 
new  impetus  to  the  church,  there  was  a  largely 
attended  meeting  on  May  i6,  1906,  to  con- 
sider plans  for  an  enlargement  of  the  chapel, 
in  order  that  the  Sunday  School  might  have 
better  facilities  for  work.  Tentative  plans 
for  rebuilding  were  exhibited,  and  a  finance 
committee  and  a  building  committee  were 
appointed.  When  the  plans  had  been  care- 
fully worked  out,  the  Trustees,  at  a  formal 
meeting  in  February,  1907,  voted  to  under- 
take the  proposed  construction  together  with 
such  alterations  of  the  church  building  itself 
as  might  be  necessary. 

Actual  work  was  commenced  in  May,  the 
sessions  of  the  Sunday  School  being  at  once 
transferred  to  the  assembly  room  of  the 
Mechanics'  Institute.  1  he  church  services 
were  continued  in  the  auditorium  until  the 
beginning  of  the  vacation  period,  July  ist. 
On  their  resumption,  in  September,  1907, 
they  also  were  transferred  to  the  assembly 
room  of  Mechanics'  Institute.  The  Sunday 
School  was  able  to  convene  in  its  new  building 
on  June  20,  1908.  The  church  did  not  get 
back  to  its  auditorium  until  the  second  Sunday 
in  February,  1909. 

It  seems  unnecessary  to  include  in  this  vol- 
ume a  description  of  the  church  buildings  as 
^^5 


First  Church  Chronicles 

now  improved.  Their  convenience  and  beauty 
are  obvious  to  all  who  enter.  But  the  com- 
pleteness of  the  kitchen  may  be  mentioned, 
because  every  one  will  not  see  it;  nor  will 
every  one  know  of  the  heating  and  venti- 
lating system.  This  includes  a  battery  of  four 
warm  air  furnaces  and  a  Sturtevant  fan,  which 
keep  a  large  volume  of  air,  warm  in  winter  and 
cool  in  summer,  moving  steadily.  All  the 
air,  before  it  is  moved  by  the  fan,  is  filtered 
through  a  screen  of  water,  and  in  the  main 
auditorium — a  space  of  180,000  cubic  feet — 
the  air  can  be  changed  every  twelve  minutes. 
A  notable  feature  also  is  the  quaHty  of  the 
glazing  which  supplements  the  memorial  win- 
dows. The  skylight  in  the  Sunday  School 
room  reproduces  in  glass  a  coffered  wooden 
ceiHng;  the  aisle  windows  of  the  main  audi- 
torium are  adaptations,  in  vertical  Hues  and 
flamboyant  cuspings,  of  the  great  window  in 
the  front  facade  of  Milan  cathedral;  and  in 
the  outer  and  vestibule  doors  crystal  leaded 
glass  has  been  inserted. 

The  architect,  to  whose  painstaking  work 
is  due  the  credit  not  only  for  the  beauty  of  the 
reconstructed  buildings,  but  for  the  complete- 
ness of  the  harmony  between  the  old  and  new, 
was  Hugh  P.  Chrisp,  then  a  member  of  the 
congregation.  Others  to  whom  particular 
186 


First  Church  Chronicles 

credit  is  due,  are  the  pastor,  the  President  and 
treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Trustees — Arthur 
Robinson  and  James  Johnston,  respectively — 
and,  most  of  all,  Charles  H.  Wiltsie,  who  was 
chairman  of  the  building  and  of  the  finance 
committee.  The  total  cost  of  the  alterations 
came  to  $36,300.  Of  this  sum,  about  $22,000 
was  subscribed  and  paid  during  1907  and  1908; 
and  the  balance  was  contributed  in  1911-12. 

In  September,  1908,  Rev.  Lloyd  G.  Davis 
came  to  take  the  place  of  Mr.  Gutelius,  and  as 
paid  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School 
to  give  to  that  branch  of  the  church  life  the 
impetus  which  the  new  building  so  strongly 
invited.     In  this  he  was  very  successful. 

On  May  30,  1909,  Dr.  Miller  having  com- 
pleted eight  years  of  service,  and  seeing  the 
church  efficiently  operating  in  buildings  which 
were  complete,  modern  and  beautiful,  formally 
tendered  his  resignation.  He  desired  time  for 
extended  travel  and  study  abroad,  and  after 
expressing  appreciation  of  the  loyalty  and 
friendship  which  had  been  shown  him,  he 
said :  "  A  long  leave  of  absence,  while  enjoy- 
able and  comfortable  for  a  pastor,  is  liable 
to  retard  the  progress  and  delay  the  activities 
of  the  church."  For  this  reason,  he  asked 
his  dismissal,  requesting  that  it  take  effect 
on  June  27th,  A  meeting  of  the  Society  was 
187 


First  Church  Chronicles 

held  on  June  2d,  and  a  committee  appointed 
"  to  express  to  Dr.  Miller  the  congregation's 
regard  for  him  and  its  appreciation  of  his  bril- 
liant services,  and  request  him  to  reconsider 
his  proffered  resignation  and,  if  possible, 
withdraw  it."  Five  days  later,  at  a  meeting 
of  Trustees,  Session  and  committee.  Dr. 
Miller  read  a  statement  reaffirming  his  deci- 
sion. This  was  reported  to  the  congregation 
at  a  meeting  held  on  June  i6th  when,  regret- 
fully, the  resignation  was  accepted.  After 
leaving  Rochester,  Dr.  Miller  spent  many 
months  in  Europe.  He  is  now  again  pastor 
of  the  church  in  Warsaw. 

Almost  coincidently  with  the  resignation 
of  Dr.  Miller  the  church  lost  by  death  one 
who  had  been  on  its  Session  for  thirty-three 
years,  and  continuously,  for  twenty-six  years, 
its  clerk — Albert  G.  Bassett — a  man  whose 
spirituality  gave  to  his  gentleness  a  strength 
and  power  within  the  church  of  which  he 
himself  did  not  dream. 

XXXII 

Temporary  Supplies 

After  the  departure  of  Dr.  Miller  the  First 
Church  was  without  a  pastor  for  nearly  two 
years.     During   that    period.    Rev.    Henry    H. 


First  Church  Chronicles 

Stebbins,  D.D.,  accepted  the  Session's  invita- 
tion to  act  as  Moderator  and  occasionally  sup- 
plied the  pulpit.  In  his  absence,  the  Assistant 
Pastor,  Mr.  Davis,  took  his  place  as  Modera- 
tor. The  most  frequent  pulpit  supplies,  how- 
ever, were  the  Rev.  Henry  C.  Applegarth, 
D.D.,  and  the  Rev.  Cornelius  Woelfkin,  D.D. 
— these  four  men  maintaining,  between  them, 
the  efficiency  of  the  church  and  the  quality 
of  its  preaching  at  a  very  high  standard. 
Naturally,  much  of  the  detail  work  fell  upon 
Mr.  Davis,  and  at  the  close  of  the  pulpit 
vacancy  the  Session  appropriately  adopted 
resolutions  expressing  its  appreciation  of  his 
ungrudging  service. 

On  November  lo,  1909,  the  congregation 
elected  Moses  Lyman  to  the  Eldership,  to 
take  the  place  of  Elder  Bassett.  In  the 
following  year  brass  flower-vases,  purchased 
by  friends  of  Mr.  Bassett  and  suitably  in- 
scribed, were  placed  on  the  pulpit  tables  in 
memory  of  him.  Special  services  were  held, 
as  usual,  during  Holy  Week,  and  on  Good 
Friday  Communion  was  celebrated — as  it  has 
often  been  since.  During  this  period,  also,  the 
church  bore  its  part  in  the  Laymen's  Mis- 
sionary Movement,  and  with  marked  success 
conducted  an  "  Every-Member-Canvass  "  in 
behalf  of  the  Benevolent  Fund. 
189 


First  Church  Chronicles 


XXXIII 

The  Beginning  of  the  Present  Pastorate 

On  January  4,  191 1,  a  meeting  of  the  Society, 
receiving  the  report  of  the  committee  to  select 
a  pastor,  acted  upon  its  recommendation, 
and  by  an  unanimous  rising  vote  extended  a 
call  to  the  Rev.  Warren  Sage  Stone,  who  was 
then  pastor  of  a  church  in  LeRoy,  N.  Y. 
Mr.  Stone  was  born  in  Mexico,  N.  Y.,  in  1876, 
and  like  Dr.  Robinson  was  a  graduate  of  Ham- 
ilton College  and  of  Auburn  Theological 
Seminary.  He  had  also  studied  at  Leipzig, 
Ger.;  and  in  addition  to  his  pastorate  at  Le  Roy 
had  been  for  two  years  lecturer  in  the  Depart- 
ment of  Homiletics  at  Auburn  Seminary. 

The  call  was  accepted  and  the  ceremony  of 
installation  took  place  on  Thurdsay  evening, 
March  2,  191 1.  The  invocation  was  offered 
by  Dr.  G.  B.  F.  Hallock,  Assistant  Pastor  of 
the  Brick  Church.  Then  came  the  hymn, 
"  The  Church's  One  Foundation."  The  Scrip- 
ture was  read  by  the  Rev.  R.  R.  Converse, 
D.  D.,  of  St.  Luke's;  prayer  was  offered  by 
Dr.  Applegarth;  and  after  an  anthem  by 
the  choir,  "  Rejoice  Ye  with  Jerusalem,"  the 
sermon  was  preached  by  Dr.  Woelfkin.  The 
hymn,  "  Lord  of  All  Being  "  followed,  and 
after  that  the  Rev.  William  D.  Jones,  Modera- 

190 


First  Church  Chronicles 

tor  of  Presbytery,  propounded  the  consti- 
tutional questions.  The  instalHng  prayer 
was  made  by  Rev.  Charles  C.  Albertson, 
D.D.,  of  Central  Church;  the  choir  sang, 
**  In  Heavenly  Love  Abiding  ";  Rev.  James 
S.  Riggs,  D.D.,  of  Auburn  Seminary,  gave  the 
charge  to  the  pastor,  Dr.  Stebbins  the  charge 
to  the  people,  and  after  the  hymn,  "  Oh, 
Master,  Let  me  Walk  with  Thee,"  the  pastor 
pronounced  the  benediction.  The  occasion 
was  the  first  time  in  the  church's  history 
on  which  it  had  installed  its  pastor  prior, 
by  three  days,  to  the  delivery  of  his  first  ser- 
mon from  its  pulpit. 

Two  months  after  the  installation  of  Mr. 
Stone,  Rev.  Lloyd  G.  Davis  presented  his 
resignation  as  assistant,  owing  to  his  wish  to 
accept  an  appointment  at  the  Berry  School, 
Mount  Berry,  Ga.  The  resignation  was  re- 
gretfully accepted,  and  took  effect  July  ist. 

On  June  21,  191 1,  John  P.  Silvernail  and 
Charles  Mulford  Robinson  were  re-elected 
Elders.  Charles  Winslow  Smith,  succeeding 
Mr.  Davis  as  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
School,  served  from  1910-12.  Frank  L.  Gos- 
nell  followed  him  for  the  year  1913-14,  and 
now  Mr.  Smith  is  again  Superintendent.  It 
is  enough  perhaps  to  say  that  the  Superin- 
tendents of  the  recent  years  have  fully  main- 
191 


First  Church  Chronicles 

tained     the    high     standards     established     by 
their  predecessors. 

To  the  great  happiness  of  the  First  Church 
members,  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Stone  is  still 
"  history  in  the  making."  As  no  perspective 
can  yet  be  taken  of  it,  no  further  record  may 
here  be  attempted.  But  noting  the  marked 
gain  in  the  contributions  of  the  church  for 
benevolent  purposes — a  gain  of  25  per  cent, 
in  the  short  time  since  the  new  pastor's  coming; 
noting  the  payment  of  the  last  dollar  of  church 
debt,*  the  growth  of  a  church  endowment 
fund,  and  the  Society's  beginning  of  its  second 
century  with  money  in  the  bank  for  ordinary 
purposes;  noting  the  continued  loyalty  of 
church  members — evidenced  in  a  thousand 
ways,  but  perhaps  most  strikingly  by  the  long 
terms  of  service  which  are  still  unbroken, 
and  by  the  record  of  a  Sunday  School  scholar  t 
who,  after  more  than  twenty  years,  is  yet 
to  be  absent  from  her  place  for  the  first  time, 
— noting  in  the  church  the  substitution  of 
an  enthusiastic  volunteer  chorus  choir,  under 
the  leadership  of  George  B.  Penny,  for  the 
paid    quartet    of    other    years;     and    noting, 

*  Arising  in  the  main  from  the  payment  of  damages 
for  an  injury  for  which  the  church  was  claimed  to  be 
liable. 

f  Miss  Florence  Miller. 

192 


First  Church  Chronicles 

as  best,  the  deep  spiritual  life,  the  strong  and 
steadily  gaining  Sunday  School,  the  fellow- 
ship among  the  people  of  the  congregation, 
and  the  comradeship  which  so  generally  ex- 
presses their  sentiment  toward  the  pastor — 
noting  such  things,  and  then  looking  back 
over  the  long  way  which  the  church  has  come 
in  its  hundred  years,  we  may  see  how  truly 
it  may  be  said  that  the  forest  trail  has  de- 
veloped, in  spite  of  its  several  branching  paths, 
into  a  firm  and  sunny  highway. 

Upon  this,  it  is  a  happy  band  of  pilgrims 
that  now  goes  singing  toward  the  Goal. 


193 


NOTES 

The  First  Church  of  Rochester  antedates  all  the 
present  Boards  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America. 

The  total  amount  contributed  for  benevolent  purposes 
by  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Rochester  during 
its  hundred  years  is  about  $375,000. 

Congregational  expenses  during  this  period  totaled 
about  $525,000,  making  a  total  of  nearly  a  million  dol- 
lars for  religious  purposes  by  the  society  which  sixteen 
people  started  a  hundred  years  ago,  in  a  room  over  a 
tailor  shop. 

Missionaries  who  have  gone  from  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  of  Rochester  are:  Ebenezer  Bliss,  to  the  Chero- 
kees;  Jonathan  S.  Green,  to  the  Sandwich  Islands; 
Dr.  Ferdinand  DeW.  Ward,  to  India;  Henry  Cherry,  to 
India;  T.  Dwight  Hunt,  to  the  Sandwich  Islands; 
Henry  A.  DeForest,  M.D.  and  Mrs.  DeForest,  to  Syria; 
Mrs.  Delia  Stone  Bishop,  to  the  Sandwich  Islands;  Mrs. 
Maria  Ward  Chapin  Smith,  to  Syria;  Mrs.  Alice  Buell 
Morris,  to  China. 

Persons  who,  going  from  the  First  Church,  have  entered 
the  ministry,  include:  Enoch  Miller,  Justin  G.  Riley, 
George  S.  Sill,  Robert  L.  Stanton,  Horace  Winston,  G. 
Parsons  Nichols,  James  Ballentine,  Dr.  L.  Merrill  Miller, 
Henry  E.  Peck,  Charles  G.  Lee,  Frederick  M.  Starr, 
Dr.  Everard  Kempshall,  William  N.  McCoon,  Charles 
R.  Clarke,  Henry  B.  Chapin,  D.D.,  Robert  Proctor, 
George  Dutton,  M.L.R.P.  Hill,  and  J.  Hall  Mcllvaine. 


19s 


PRESENT  OFFICERS  OF  THE  CHURCH 


SESSION 


Rev.  Warren  Sage  Stone,  Moderator 
Charles  F.  Pond     Fred'k  A.  Sherwood    J.  P.  Silvernail 
Moses  Lyman         Charles  P.  Ford  E.  N.  Walbridge 

Charles  Mulford  Robinson,  Clerk 


Wm.  C.  Wait 
Frank  E.  Combs 


Class  of  igis 
Arthur  Robinson 
Wm.  H.  Briggs 
George  H.  Clark 


DEACONS 


TRUSTEES 


Class  of  iQi6 
Henry  C.  Reiner 
Wm.  B.  Lee 
James  Johnston 


A.  D.  Findlay 
George  H.  Parmele 

Class  of  1917 
George  L  Viall 
Charles  H.  Wiltsie 
Wm.  W.  Chapin, 
President 


SUPERINTENDENTS    OF    SUNDAY    SCHOOL 

Charles  Winslow  Smith 
Edward  E.  Ford,  Assistant 

FOREIGN   PASTOR 

Rev.  Robert  F.  Fitch,  Hangchow,  China 


196 


INDEX 


FORMER  OFFICERS  OF  THE  CHURCH 

Deacons 
Elections  of,  pages  15,  34,  127,  163,  182,  183. 

Elders 
Elections  of,  15,  34,  47,  67,  82,  97,  iii,  124,  126-7,  136, 
162,  165,  170,  ly^r-j,  180,  182,  183,  191 

Pastors 
Names,     of: — Williams,     Penney,     Edwards,    McLaren, 
Mcllvaine,  Pease,  Beadle,  Wines,  Robertson,  Robin- 
son, Millard,  Miller,  see  Index. 

Assistant  Pastors 
Names  of,  183,  189. 

Pulpit  Supplies 
Names  of,  12,  85,  103,  112,  134,  138,  140,  144,  175,  189. 

Sunday  School  Superintendents 
Names  of,  30,  98,  117,  126,  129,  136,  145,  170,  176,  184, 
191. 

Trustees 
No   complete   list  of  Trustees   is   here   compiled,   owing 
to  the  loss  by  fire  of  the  Trustees'   early  records. 
(See  page  146.) 


199 


INDEX  OF  NAMES 


A 

Adams,  John  W.,  127, 129,  131, 

136 
Ainsworth,  Asa,  160 
Albertson,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Charles 

C,  191 
Aldridge,  George  W.,  90 
Ailing,  Miss  Louise  J.,  165 
Ailing,  S.  Y.,  55,  120 
Applegarth,  D.D.,  Rev.  Henry 

C.,  189,  190 
Arink,  Mrs.  G.,  145 
Armstrong,  Edmund  A.,  124 
Armstrong,  E.  W.,  162 
Armstrong,  Maitland,  178 
Avery,  Courtland,  30 
Avery,  George  A.,  29,  69 

B 

Backus,  Dr.  Frederick,  54,  84, 

90, 118 
Backus,  Mrs.,  54 
Baker,  Prof.  Arthur  L.,  180 
Baker,  Mrs.  Arthur  L.,  180 
Baker,  James  F.,  163,  165 
Ballentine,  Rev.  James,  195 
Barnard,  Jehiel,  11,  12,  23,  31 
Barnum,  Isaac  B.,  14 
Bartlett,  Rev.  D.  K.,  159 
Bassett,  Albert  G.,    165,    188, 


Beadle,  D.D.,  Rev.  Elias  R. 

138,  139,  140, 153 
Bell,  Mr.,  118 
Bender,  Hastings  R.,  13,  38, 

42,  90 
Benedict,  Oliver  M.,  136,  145, 

146 
Bickford,  Sibel,  19 
Biden,  G.,  30 
Biden,  John,  55 
Billingston,  Rev.  Mr.,  115 
Bishop,  Mrs.  J.  R.,  67,  195 
Bishop,  W.  S.,  30 
Bissell,  Mary  Ann,  63 
Bissell,  Josiah,  Jr.,  ^2,  3^,  47, 

56,  66. 
Black,  Charlotte,  30 
Bliss,  Rev.  Ebenezer,  43,  44, 

195 
Bloss,  W.  C,  157 
Blossom,  Mrs.,  54 
Boardman,  Rev.  G.  L.,  137 
Bostwick,  Mr.,  84 
Bradstreet,  Nehemiah  C,  90 
Breck,  George,  165 
Brewster,  H.  A.,  54 
Brewster,  Mrs.  John  H.,  180 
Briggs,  Wm.  H.,  196 
Bristol,  Rev.  Edward,  176 
Brown,  Francis,  13 
Brown,  Hiram,  30 
Brown,  John  H.,  47,  48,  50 


200 


Index  of  Names 


Brown,  Warren,  12,  14,  15,  19, 

26 
Buell,  Eben  U.,  iii,  136 
Buell,  George  C,  145,  146, 170 
Burchard,  Rev.  Jedediah,  75, 

lOI 

Burke,  William,  127,  162 
Burke,  William  B.,  145,  146 
Burnell,  Levi,  69 
Bush,  D.D.,  Rev.  Charles  P., 

74,  102,  103 
Bush,  John  F.,  30 


Case,  Margaret,  30 
Campbell,  Rev.  Dr.,  153,  154, 

157 
Carpenter,  George  W.,  170, 177 
Chapin,  D.D.,  Rev.  Henry  B., 

195 
Chapin,  Mrs.  E.  Maria  Ward, 

42,  43,  44,  45,  46,  95 
Chapin,    Moses,    24,    47,    90, 

98,  102,  III,  140,  157,  160 
Chapin,  Seth  D.,  69 
Chapin,  W.  W.,  184,  196 
Cherry,  Rev.  Henry,  90,  195 
Chester,  Thomas,  170,  176,  177 
Chichester,  Charles,  176 
Childs,  Timothy,  59 
Church,  Charles,  124 
Clark,  D.D.,  Rev.  Walter,  153 
Clark,  George  H.,  196 
Clark,  Rev.  William,  21 
Clarke,  Rev.  Charles  R.,  194 
Clinton,  Governor,  59 
Coit,  Rev.  C.  P.,  176 
Coit,  Rev.  J.  T.,  136 
Colfert,  Rev.  Lawrence  M.,  167 
Collins,  Rev,  Aaron  C,  21 


Combs,  F.  A.,  183,  196 
Condit,  D.D.,  Rev.  Jonathan 

B.,  144,  14s,  148,  149 
Converse,    D.D.,   Rev.    R.R., 

184,  190 
Cook,  Rev.  Chauncey,  43 
Cook,  E.,  30 

Craig,  Oscar,  150,  162,  165 
Craig,  Mrs.,  11 
Chrisp,  Hugh  P.,  186 
Cromwell,  Rev.  Dr.,  154 
Cutting,  Professor,  137 

D 

Dabney,  J.  G.,  127 
Dalzell,  Robert  W.,  in 
Davisdon,  Rev.  Edgar  E.,  170 
Davis,    Rev.   Lloyd   G.,    184, 

187,  189,  191 
Davis,  S.,  30 

DeForest,  M.D.,  Henry  A.,  195 
DeForest,  Mrs.  Henry  A.,  195 
Denton,  Eugene,  184 
Dewey,  Dr.  Chester,  54,  157 
Dickson,  Rev.  Mr.,  103 
Donnelly,  Hannah,  19,  26 
Donnelly,  Henry,  13,    14,    15, 

19,  26 
Dundas,  Charles  W.,  97,  98, 

III 
Durand,  Frederick,  182 
Durfee,  Rev.  Charles,  168 
Dutton,  Rev.  George,  127,  195 


Edwards,  Jonathan,  87,  103 
Edwards,  Rev.  Tryon,  85,  86, 
87,  88,  90,  92,  94,  96,  98,  99, 
100,  102,  103,  104,  106,  113, 
172 


201 


Index   of  Names 


Eddy,  Rev.  Mv.,  88 

Eliott,  Nancy,  25 

Ely,  Amelia,  63 

Ely,  Elisha,  13,  14,  15,  19,  30, 

38,  SI,  66,  160 
Ely,  Hannah,  19,  66 
Ely,  Harvey,  38,  160 
Ely,  Mrs.  Harvey,  122 
Ely,  Rev.  J.  A.,  156 
Ely,  Dr.  Wm.  S.,  184 
Ensworth,  Azel,  25,  37,  38 
Everett,  Rev.  Mr.,  43 


Fairbanks,   Rev.   Eleazer,    14, 

15,  22 
Findlay,  A.  D.,  182,  196 
Finney,  Rev.  Charles  G.,  72, 

73,  75,  76,  loi,  102,  128 
Fitch,  D.D.,  Rev.,  Ebenezer, 

22 
Fitch,  Rev.  Robert  F.,  183, 196 
Ford,  Charles  P.,  170,  182,  196 
Ford,  Edward  E.,  196 
Fox,  John  T.,  155,  163 
Fuller,  Rev.  David,  14,  22 


Gardiner,  Judge  A.,  102,  136 
Gardiner,  Mrs.,  118 
Gardner,  Rev.  Corliss  B.,  168 
Gibbs,  Jane,  19 
Gibbs,  Oliver,  13,  14,  15,  ig, 

37,  38,  39,  160 
Gibbs,  Orrin  E.,  13,  90 
Gilbert,  the  painter,  65 
Gormly,  Mrs.  William  R.,  179, 

180 
Gorsline,  William  H.,  155 


Gosnell,  Frank  L.,  191 
Goold,  Henry,  147,  170 
Gould,  Jacob,  34,  38,  39,  60, 

90,  112,  120,  157,  160 
Graham,  C.  H.,  30 
Granger,  L.,  38 
Graves,  Samuel,  34,  38 
Green,  Amanda,  30 
Green,  Rev.  Jonathan  S.,  38, 

67,  195 
Green,  M.,  160 
Green,  Russell,  47 
Griffith,  W.  S.,  30 
Gutelius,     Rev.     Stanley    F., 

183,  184,  187 

H 

Hall,  Capt.  Basil,  53 
Hall,  Rev.  Dr.,  109,  143 
Hall,  Miss  Sallie,  180 
Hallock,  D.D.,  Rev.  G.  B.  F., 

190 
Hamilton,  Arthur  S.,  177 
Hamilton,  T.  B.,  29,  104,  105, 

106 
Harrison,  Pres.  William  Henry, 

104 
Hatch,  Harriet,  79 
Hawes,  Rev.  Dr.,  88 
Hayden,   Charles  J.,  90,   146, 

147,  160,  162 
Haney,  Margaret  C,  30 
Hibbard,  Delbert  C,  180 
Hickok,  Rev.  Mr.,  109,  115 
Hill,  Charles,  90 
Hill,  C.  B.,  147 
Hill,  Charles  J.,  30,  38,  67,  90 
Hill,  Rev.  M.  L.  R.  P.,  195 
Hills,  Emily,  30 
Hills,  Isaac,  90 


202 


Index  of   Names 


Hobart,  Bishop,  31,  51 
Hodgman,  Rev.  T.  M.,  171 
Hollister,  DeWitt  C,  30 
Holmes,  Marcus,  97 
Hotchkin,   D.D.,   Rev.   James 

H.,  21,  74_ 
Hough,  David  M.,  170 
Hunt,  Rev.  T.  D.,  176,  195 


Jack,  Miss,  30 
Jennings,  George  E.,  146 
Jennings,  P.  W.,  55 
Jewett,  Gibbons,  13 
Johnson,  D.D.,  Rev.  Herrick, 

168 
Johnston,  James,  170,  177, 187, 

196 
Jones,  Rev.  William  D.,  190 

K 

Kempshall,  D.D.,  Rev.  Ever- 

ard,  196 
Kempshall,  Thomas,  90,  1 24 
Kittridge,   D.D.,   Rev.   J.'  E., 

176,  182 


Lafayette,  General,  59 
Lay,  Aaron,  14,  19 
Lay,  Sarah,  19 
Lee,  Rev.  Charles  G.,  196 
Lee,  Charles  M.,  86,  89,  127 
Lee,  Wm.  B.,  196 
Leonard,  Mary  A.,  30 
Lewis,  Sarah  S.,  150 
Lincoln,  Pres.  Abraham,  136 
140 


Livingston,  James  K.,  82 
Livingston,  John,  63 
Livingston,  Samuel,  64 
Lyman,  Moses,  189,  196 

M 

Magne,    Charles,    13,    14,    19, 

38 
Magne,  Polly,  19 
McCoon,  Rev.  Wm.,  N.,  195 
Mcllvaine,  Rev.  J.  Hall,  195 
Mcllvaine,  D.D.,  Rev.  Joshua 
Hawley,    77,    78,    no,    115, 
116,  117,  118,  122,  123,  124, 
125,  126,  128,  133,  134,  135. 
159,  160,  169 
McLaren,  D.D.,  Rev.  Malcolm 
N.,  107,  108,  109,  no,  112, 

13s, 154 
McLaughlin,  Clarence  A.,  184 
McLaughlin,    Miss    Florence, 

183,  184 
Merrell,  Rev.  Joseph,  21 
Millard,    D.D.,   Rev.    Nelson, 

17s,  176,  177,  178,  180,  181, 

182,  184 
Millard,  Mrs.,  179 
Miller,  Rev.  Enoch.,  195 
Miller,  Miss  Florence,  192 
Miller,  D.D.,  Rev.  George  D., 

121,  181,  182,  184,  187,  188 
Miller,  D.D.,  Rev.  L.  Merrill, 

19s 
Miller,  Samuel,  30 
Mitchell,  D.D.,  Rev.  S.  S.,  176 
Mogridge,  J.,  150 
Mogridge,  Mrs.  J.,  150 
Montgomery,  Harvey,  50 
Moore,  Rev.  T.  V.,  112 
Morey,  Rev.  H.  M.,  154 

203 


Index  of  Names 


Morgan,  Mr.,  146 
Morris,  Mrs.  Alice  Buell,  195 
Morse,  Miss  Mary,  180 
Munger,  Mr.,  146 

N 

Nash,  John  C,  90 

Nash,  Mrs.  John  C,  118 

Neafus,  Wm.,  38 

Nelson,  D.D.,  Rev.  S.  Banks, 

184 
Nichols,  Rev.  G.  Parsons,  195 
Nichols,  Rev.  James,  134,  135 
Nichols,  Mrs.  S.  J.,  158,  165 
Noble,  William,  21 

O 

Olds,  Prof.  George  D.,  177 

P 

Page,  Rev.  J.  R.,  153 
Pardee,  John  M.,  170 
Parker,  Rev.  Charles,  144 
Parker,  Rev.  Joel,  114 
Parker,  Mrs.  James  Marsh,  59 
Parmele,  G.  H.,  182,  196 
Parmelee,    Rev.    Reuben,    12, 

14,  21 
Parsons,  Rev.  Levi,  153 
Paterson,  Thomas  J.,  69 
Patton,  D.D.,     Rev.     George, 

168,  176 
Pease,  D.D.,  Rev.  Calvin,  132, 

134,  13s,  136,  137,  138,  153, 

157 
Peck,  Everard,  25,  31,  38,  51, 

69,  127,  160 
Peck,  Mrs.  Everard,  45 


Peck,  Rev.  Henry  E.,  195 
Penney,    D.D.,    Rev.   Joseph, 
42,  43,  44,  45,  46,  48,  5°.  56, 
57,  58,   59,  60,  61,  63,  64, 
65,  67,  69,   70,   71,   75,   76, 
78,  80,  81,  82,  83,  84,  85, 
86,  88,  89,  94,  97,  106.  132 
Penney,  Mrs.,  44,  77 
Penny,  Geo.  B.,  192 
Perkins,  William  H.,  118 
Perkins,  Mrs.  William  H.,  118, 

165 
Plumb,  Abraham,  31,  50,  66 
Plumb,  Mrs.  Patty,  66 
Pomeroy,  John  N.,  126,  129 
Pomeroy,  Rev.  F.,  22 
Pond,    Charles   F.,    147,    177, 

184,  194 
Pond,  Elias,  54 
Porter,  Sam  D.,  30,  98 
Proctor,  Rev.  Robert,  195 


R 


Rankin,  Rev.  Henry,  112 
Rawson,  Rev.  Mr.,  43 
Reid,  Rev.  Adam,  112 
Reiner,  Henry  C,  196 
Reynolds,  Mortimer  F.,  39 
Reynolds,  Wm.  A.,  30,  54 
Richardson,  Rev.  Mr.,  115 
Riddle,  Rev.  D,  H.,  84,  85 
Riggs,  Rev.  Herman  C,  168, 

182 
Riggs,  D.D.,  Rev.  James  S., 

191 
Riley,    Col.    Ashbel    W.,    68, 

80,  90,  155 
Riley,  George  S.,  152 
Riley,  Rev.  Justin  G.,  195 
Ripley,  Eli,  38 


204 


Index   of  Names 


Robertson,  Rev.  James  L., 
152,  153,  IS4,  158,  159,  160, 
162,  164,  165,  166,  167 

Robertson,  Mrs.  J.  L.,  166, 171, 
179 

Robinson,  Arthur,  187,  196 

Robinson,  Mrs.  Arthur,  180 

Robinson,  D.D.,  Rev.  Charles 
E.,  124,  167,  168,  169,  172, 
173,  174,  175, 176,  190 

Robinson,  Mrs.  Charles  E., 
171,  174,  179 

Robinson,  Charles  Mulford, 
182,  191,  196 

Robinson,  D.D.,  Rev.  E.  G., 
134,  138,  140 

Robinson,  Miss  Julia  O.,  171 

Rochester,  Col.  Nathaniel,  23, 
24 

Root,  Rev.  J.  S.,  176 

Root,  Prof.  Oren,  175 

Rosslewin,  Mr.,  146 

Rowe,  William,  177 

Rumsey,  Miss,  180 


Sampson,  Judge  Ashley,  32, 
38,60,63,82,  114,  127 

Sampson,  Mrs.,  29 

Schellinger,  Eliza,  30 

Scofield,  David,  98 

Scofield,  Salmon,  47,  66 

Scott,  Rev.  Dr.,  133 

Scranton,  Delia,  11,  12 

Scranton,  Mrs.  Hamlet,  11 

Sedgwick,  Susan,  30 

Shaw,  D.D.,  Rev.  James  B., 
109,  IIS,  136,  137,  153, 
159,  176 


Shedd,  D.D.,  Rev.  W.  G.  T., 

138 
Sherwood,  Frederick  A.,  182, 

196 
Sholtus,  C.  H.,  30 
Sill,  George  G.,  38 
Sill,  Rev.  George  S.,  195 
Silvernail,   John   P.,  182,  191, 

196 
Smith,  Charles  Winslow,  184, 

191,  196 
Smith,  Clarissa,  30 
Smith,  Judge  E.  Darwin,    150 
Smith,  Erastus  B.,  30 
Smith,  Mrs.  Maria  W.  C,  157, 

195 
Smith,  Silas  0.,  12 
Sprague,  Rev.  Dr.,  109 
Stanton,  Henry  B.,  120 
Stanton,  Rev.  Robert  L.,  195 
Starks,  Arbela,  19 
Starr,  Frederick,  67,  122,  127, 

160 
Starr,  Rev.  Frederick  M.,  195 
Stebbins,  D.D.,  Rev.  H.   H., 

189,  191 
Stevens,  Dr.,  42 
Stillwell,  Hamlin,  90 
Stoddard,  Huldah,  19 
Stone,  David,  38 
Stone,  Delia,  67 
Stone,  Enos,  23,  31 
Stone,  Joseph,  38 
Stone,  Patty,  25 
Stone,  Newell  A.,  170 
Stone,  Samuel,  14 
Stone,  Rev.  Warren  Sage,  190, 

191,  192,  196 
Strong,  Emily,  63 
Strong,  Dr.  Maltby,  90 
Strong,  Miss,  29 


205 


Index  of  Names 


Taylor,    D.D.,    Rev.    W.    R. 

176,  182 
Terry,  Seth  H.,  136,  i6i,  162 
Tryon,  James  S.,  127 
Tyler,  President,  120 


Van  Buren,  Martin,  120 
Van  Voorhis,  Menzo,  170 
Viall,  George  I.,  196 


W 

Wadsworth,  Whiting,  150 
Wadsworth,  Mrs.  Whiting,  150 
Wait,  Wm.  C,  196 
Walbridge,    Edward    N.,    182, 

183, 196 
Walbridge,  S.  D.,  146 
Walker,  Otis,  13 
Ward,  Andrew,  55 
Ward,  D.D.,  Rev.  F.   DeW., 

68,  90,  172,  195 
Ward,   Dr.  Levi,  33,   54,   60, 

157 
Ward,  Mrs.  Levi,  45 
Ward,  Levi,  Jr.,  34,  38 


Ward,  Levi  A.,  90,  98,  114, 
117,  125,  126,  160 

Ward,  Mrs.  Levi  A.,  118 

Ward,  Miss,  30 

Warner,  A.  J.,  151 

Webb,  Charles  H.,  170 

Webb,  W.  W.,  184 

Weed,  Joel  F.,  30 

Weld,  Theodore  D.,  80 

West,  Elizabeth,  19 

West,  Daniel,  14,  15,  19,  26, 
160 

Wheelock,  Mrs.,  11 

Williams,  Charles  M.,  22,  184 

Williams,  Rev.  Comfort,  14, 
20,  22,  24,  32,  35,  36,  38, 
39>  40,  41 

Williams,  Lucy,  25 

Wilson,  Jane,  30 

Wilson,  Priscilla,  64 

Wilson,  Robert,  38 

Wiltsie,  Charles  H.,   187,   196 

Winchester,  Rev.  Mr.,  43 

Wines,  Rev.  Casper  Maurice, 
140,  141,  142,  144 

Wines,  D.D.,  Rev.  E.  C,  141 

Winslow,  Horace,  30 

Winston,  Rev.  Horace,  195 

Wisner,  Rev.  Wm.,  88 

Woelfkin,  D.D.,  Rev.  Cor- 
nelius, 189,  190 

Woodward,  Roland  B.,  184 


206 


Pnnceton  Theological  Seminary  Libraries 


1    1012  01217   1767 


